How to Identify Vintage Kangaroo Sneakers
KangaROOS sneakers were popular in the 1980s and were born from a runner's need to have some place to put a house key while running. The novelty of the pocketed sneakers made them soar in popularity, but by the early 1990s, the popularity fizzled. There was a resurgence in the late 1990s that still persists today, and the desire to own a vintage pair of KangaROOS is on the rise. It is fairly easy to tell a vintage KangaROO from its modern day counterpart.
Instructions
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1
Look at the pocket of the KangaROOS. Most vintage pairs came adorned with a Velcro flap, while the current day variety has a zipper pocket. The Velcro flap should have "ROOS" emblazoned on it.
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2
Examine the stitching. The modern incarnation has a triple stitch around the upper of the sneaker. Vintage models have unnoticeable stitching or a double stitch pattern, often in the same color as the upper.
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3
Look at the interior of the sneaker. A KangaROOS embroidered interior was a trademark of the brand's early work. Today, the interior has been swapped for a solid color, usually coordinating with the color of the shoe.
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4
Inspect the bottom of the shoe. Vintage pairs should have a kangaroo embossed on the bottom of the sneaker in the center, horizontally. The current sneakers have a patched KangaROOS logo vertically placed by the heel of the shoe. The zigzag pattern of the bottom is never interrupted on new pairs, while old pairs have a smooth center.
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5
Examine the tongue of the sneakers. Vintage KangaROOS have a large stitched logo on the tongue of the shoe that continues into the interior of the sneaker where the sizes are listed. The label is done in black and white. Current day ROOS have a smaller stitched logo that is more centered on the tongue of the sneaker. The label is colorful.
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