Leather Mary Jane featuring flower applique at hook-and-loop strap From playground to party time, Keds’ ella is a not-so-plain mary jane. Featuring a sweet flower detail on the convenient hook & loop closure, plus a memory foam footbed and deep flex grooves making them as comfy as a sneaker, but perfect for parties!. Keds brings classic sneaker style to life in the Ella mary jane. With a leather upper and hook-and-loop closure embellished with a precious flower, this white-bumpered cutie with a grippy rubber sole offers easy romping, stomping and all manners of her favorite frolic. In 1916, the Keds brand was introduced by the U.S. Rubber Company as the first national athletic and lifestyle footwear brand. At this time, the shoes were called sneakers, a term invented in late 1916 by Keds advertising agency because the rubber soles made the shoes quiet. Worn by Olympic soccer players, scores of National and International tennis champions, and many college athletes, Keds was coined the shoe of champions because of its reputation as America's premier athletic brand. Not only was Keds a leading athletic brand, it was also the brand of choice for leading style icons due to its classic, stylish, and authentic characteristics.