Do you know "Karhu," a shoe brand born in Scandinavian Finland?
KARHU" is written, "KARHU" is read. This year marks the 100th anniversary of the founding of this long-established shoe brand. . It was born in Finland, a Scandinavian country. In addition to performance running shoes, they also make sneakers for town use. However, even among HOUYHNHNM's readers, many of whom are sneaker enthusiasts, there may be many who have never heard of the brand name itself. So, let's take a quick look at the background of KARHU and its history from its founding to the present.
It is not uncommon in the sports industry to use animals such as crocodiles, leopards, and penguins as brand icons in order to associate their active images with their products. KARHU, a popular European brand of sports shoes, also uses a bear as its brand icon, and many athletes, especially in Scandinavia, have been using the bear as their favorite.
Highly regarded by athletes , his name has spread around the world.
KARHU is not yet well known in Japan, but it is actually a historic brand that celebrates its 100th anniversary this year, and was started in 1916 as a woodworking workshop in Helsinki, the capital of Finland.
KARHU" means "bear" in Finnish, as the current brand logo suggests. The company was initially involved in the development of ski boards and athletic spears, but later began developing running spikes and gradually expanded its market share by gaining recognition for its high functionality. The company gradually expanded its market share and established a firm position in the world of athletics.
From the 1920s onward, the Finnish track and field team "Frying Finns," wearing KARHU shoes, dominated the world. They won several gold medals at the Olympic Games.
At the 1952 Olympics held in Helsinki, Finland's athletes wore KARHU shoes to great success, and the brand's name became known around the world.
At the 1952 Helsinki Olympics, 15 athletes wearing KARHU spikes won gold medals.
FUN LIFE FUN RUN . Seamless connection between life and run.
Now celebrating its 100th anniversary, the brand offers a wide range of products from performance shoes for running and other activities to classic models that match casual scenes, and has become a footwear brand loved not only in Europe but also worldwide.
. In recent years, the brand has also been supported by many people regardless of the scene as a brand that seamlessly connects running culture and fashion rooted in the rich natural environment of its native Finland, under the concept of "FUN LIFE FUN RUN".
Harri Kangas SELECT OWNER & FASHION LECTURER
Katri Djerf GYMNASTIC INSTRUCTOR
Christina Ehrnrooth MARKETING SPECIALIST
The outstanding "functional beauty" can only be found in Scandinavian brands.
What is the reason why KARHU is loved around the world? There are several reasons, but the first that comes to mind is its stylish design.
In Finland and other Scandinavian countries, the level of design requirements for daily-use items such as furniture, automobiles, stationery, and home appliances is high, and the orientation toward design that is not design for design's sake but rather "functional beauty," which is the result of the pursuit of function, has long been appreciated.
KARHU's shoes also inherit this history of Scandinavian design, and their beautiful form incorporates highly functional technology such as Fulcrum, which athletes can experience by actually running, but without it standing out as a weird design feature. The fact that it blends in with the design of the shoes without being conspicuous is typical of the Scandinavian brand "KARHU.
Six recommended models of KARHU.
The Syncron Classic from the Legend line, a reissue of a model created in 1980. ￥17,800+TAX
Fusion 2.0" from the "Legend Line," a reissue of a model released in the 1990s. ￥16,800+TAX
Albatross" of the "Legend Line". . ￥9,500+TAX
The lightest model in the Performance Line, FLOW 5 . . ￥13,800+TAX
The Floyd 4 is part of the "Performance Line". . ￥14,800+TAX
The "Fast 6" from the "Performance Line" is a model with high stability and cushioning, suitable for beginners. High stability and cushioning, suitable for beginner runners. ￥14,800+TAX
