Keds x Rachel Antonoff's Empowering Pair of Kicks
Keds’ recent shoe collaboration with New-York-based designer Rachel Antonoff delivers power to the people, featuring the empowering message “Hysterical Female” tied together with a shoelace. Released in honor of National Voter Registration Day, the new kicks allow buyers to speak their mind without saying a word, ultimately using fashion as an opportunity to spark social change.
A spinoff of classic Keds, Antonoff’s design further preaches feminism. The quote is derived from graphic t-shirts previously sold on Anyonoff’s website to encourage women’s rights; the aim was to eliminate the stigma surrounding the phrase “Hysterical Female,” establishing it as a symbol of women’s power. “It’s like a bumper sticker but even better,” the designer has explained. “I think we live in a time where it’s good to know where you stand and what you believe in right away, and it’s important to be able to put it out there.” With Keds’ help, the bold statement is now printed in large font on white canvas lace-up sneakers with one-inch platforms for extra height.
The sneakers can be dressed up or down--whether worn with a skirt or pair of jeans, they are guaranteed to instill confidence. In a highly-charged period of feminist movements, the kicks hold particular relevance, providing another outlet for females to further demonstrate their strength and authority.
Women’s Keds x Rachel Antonoff Triple Kick Hysterical Female sneakers retail for $74.95 at www.keds.com.
Additional reporting by Allyson Levy.