As the holidays approach, toys are not the only kid-friendly gifts to give. Today’s young consumers can’t seem to get enough when it comes to character merchandise — from backpacks to shoes.
While there are lots of must-have characters of the moment from the Minions for boys and Frozen for girls, there are some classics that include Hello Kitty that never seem to go out of style.
[amazon-single-product title=”Hello Kitty Girls Sneaker” header=”Shop Related Product” url=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00XQ2WJ26/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00XQ2WJ26&linkCode=as2&tag=footnews09-20&linkId=P7GZYLDDI2ITUSMQ4″%5D
Licensed products are anything but new. Back in 1904 at the World’s Fair in St. Louis, the former Brown Shoe Co. (now Caleres), was among the first shoe companies to snag a licensed character — the iconic Buster Brown from the then popular comic strip, using it as a company mascot.
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[amazon-single-product title=”Despicable Me Boys Shoes” header=”Shop Related Product” url=”https://www.amazon.com/gp/product/B00Y1FE3ZI/ref=as_li_qf_sp_asin_il_tl?ie=UTF8&camp=1789&creative=9325&creativeASIN=B00Y1FE3ZI&linkCode=as2&tag=footnews09-20&linkId=6BUC3FPWCK36BPFD”%5D
Kids are not the only ones, however, who like stepping into a pair of licensed footnotes. I recall a pair of lavender satin running shoes I had in the early ’80s, inspired by none other than Miss Piggy. It was part of licensing deal Stride Rite had with The Muppets.
Character footwear continues to appeal to kids, typically under the age of 10, showing up on everything from cozy slippers to sneakers and rain boots. Giving a gift of character footwear is an easy way to sneak in something practical and fun at the same time.
To explore all the styles, click through the gallery below:
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