Colchester Rubber Co
United States
Colchester Rubber Co is an American footwear brand that began in 1888 in Colchester, Connecticut, making rubber footwear. A revived label sells high and low top sneakers and is described as the predecessor of Keds and Pro-Keds.
| Original founding | 1888 |
|---|---|
| Founder | George Watkinson |
| Original base | Colchester, Connecticut |
| Related brands | Keds and Pro-Keds |
What is Colchester Rubber Co?
Colchester Rubber Co is an American footwear brand. The original company was founded in 1888 in Colchester, Connecticut, by George Watkinson, formerly a manager at the Candee Rubber Company. Its factory used buildings that had belonged to the Hayward Rubber Company.
History
In 1892 the company displayed its footwear at the Chicago World's Fair, and in the same year it was acquired by the United States Rubber Company. The original brand was discontinued around 1893. It is described as the predecessor of Keds, created in 1916, and Pro-Keds, created in 1949, both made by U.S. Rubber.
Products and positioning
The original range included rubber footwear for men, women and children, working boots for cold and wet weather, rain boots, galoshes and seasonal canvas-and-rubber tennis shoes. The brand has since been relaunched with a premium positioning. Its 2022 collection featured high and low top sneakers in a range of colours, sold through stockists such as Stuarts London.
Why it matters
The brand is a case of heritage revival, returning a nineteenth-century rubber footwear name to the market as a premium sneaker label.
Frequently asked questions
Where is Colchester Rubber Co from?
The original company was based in Colchester, Connecticut, in the United States.
What does Colchester Rubber Co sell?
The revived label sells premium high and low top sneakers, following an original range of rubber footwear, boots and tennis shoes.