In the late 1800s, the first rubber sole-type shoe was made. It was called a “plimsoll”. By 1892, Goodyear, which was a rubber shoe company back then, begin to make rubber shoes and decide to name them “Keds”. In 1908, Marquis Converse founds the Converse Shoe Company and revolutionizes the game of basketball for over 50 years with his shoes. By 1917, Keds are the first mass-produced and mass-marketed shoe and later given the name “sneakers” because they made no noise. In that very same year, Converse releases the “All Star” version of their shoe which is the first performance shoe of its kind. Over the next thirty to forty years, canvas shoe makers grew steadily.

Vulcanization is the process by which shoes have always been made. This has never changed, however the steps after this process have. Assembly and stitching the shoes are done by machines now instead of by hand. The shoes are stock fitted in the factory. A process known as “lasting” prepares the upper part to be attached to the shoe’s sole. Heeling is something done by attaching the bottom half of the shoe to the shoe outline. The last step includes finishing it up and something called treeing. All treeing entails is adding the final touches, such as the laces, to the shoe. Once the finished product is ready, it is shipped to the warehouse where it will be shipped to the retailer like Toms Shoes.

Using canvas in warmer weather is a good thing because it allows your feet to breathe. Wearing regular shoes in colder weather is better because it will keep your feet a lot warmer. Canvas is very comfortable; however it is not very durable. However, regular shoes may not be very comfortable but they last a lot longer.

To clean your canvas shoes properly, you will need an old toothbrush, dish washing liquid, nylon scrub pad, plain paper and baking soda. First, you want to knock off any mud or dirt and make sure your shoes are completely dry! Wipe them with a damp cloth and remove shoelaces. Rinse the shoes with warm water inside and out. Start scrubbing with the detergent and toothbrush briskly. Rinse thoroughly. If scuff marks or dirt are still there, use the baking soda and repeat steps. Rinse your sneakers and let them dry. Place paper towels inside the shoes. This will help the drying process. If your sneakers are white you can try applying white shoe polish to hard treating areas. If you looking for your first pair of canvas shoes we strong suggest TOMS and you can save buy using this Toms Shoes Coupon.