Karhu

Karhu 1916, Finland

Under the name Ab sportartiklar Oy, a small workshop is born where all kinds of sports equipment are manufactured, javelins, skis, discs, and sneakers. Four years later, it adopts the name by which we know it today, Karhu, which means "bear" in Finnish.

The first Finnish athletes, the Flying Finns, led by Paavo Nurmi, made the brand known worldwide, as well as the three stripes they used at that time as their image. In the 1950s, Karhu reached an agreement with a then newly born brand to transfer the use of the three stripes. Since then, Karhu has used the letter "M" from "Mestari," which means champion and also became the name of one of its most successful sneakers.

Karhu ChampionAir & Fulcrum

It was not the only occasion when Karhu was ahead of the big companies. In 1977, Karhu launched ChampionAir, the first sneaker with air cushioning. The Air Cushion system was located under the heel and reduced impact. It was the first in a series of sneakers with revolutionary technologies that appeared in models that became legendary, such as Albatross or Fulcrum Star, which, along with many of their garments, established themselves as classic patterns of the 1980s.

Karhu at FOOTDISTRICT

Karhu's history of innovation shapes a blend of technological development and cultural heritage that has evolved through collaborations with brands in its environment. Currently, Karhu maintains a Nordic style developed to adapt its heritage to an urban concept.