. to the Grand Canyon , to visit Teva's roots.

The Grand Canyon, located in the northern part of the U.S. state of Arizona, stretches 446 km east to west.

The base for Grand Canyon sightseeing is the "South Rim" on the south side of the canyon. The "South Rim Village" at the center of the rim offers all kinds of facilities, including a visitor center, accommodations, restaurants, and an observation deck.

There are several ways to access the Grand Canyon South Rim from Japan, but this time I flew from Narita to Flagstaff via Denver and drove 30 minutes to the small town of Williams. From there, we drove about an hour to the site.

Get off the bus, walk through South Rim Village and follow the directions for a while, and there you will find ...... waiting for you.

Yes, it is that view that you often see in pictures, etc. ......, but seeing the Grand Canyon in person is even more spectacular than you can imagine! The scale of the Grand Canyon is so different from what you see in photos. These photos probably don't even convey 10% of the excitement I actually felt there. I am lost for words in front of such a spectacular view. At the same time, I cannot help but feel the grandeur of nature and my own puniness.

Enjoying the Grand Canyon is not limited to viewing it from above. There are trails throughout the canyon that allow visitors to enjoy the magnificent scenery while walking at a leisurely pace.

Of the 16 trails in total, we decided to walk a portion of the "Bright Angel Trail," the most popular.

The feet are Teva. This is the "GC100 Collection," a model commemorating the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Grand Canyon National Park.

Strap designs and materials have been rearranged, with colors and patterns inspired by the region's majestic terrain and natural beauty.

This "GC100 Collection" also includes various other models.

Why Teva at the Grand Canyon, by the way? The history of Teva can be traced back to the world's first sports sandals with straps, which were developed by river guides in the Grand Canyon in 1984. Until then, river guides used flip-flops, which were easy to dry, but they had a problem with falling off near the water. In addition, sneakers became heavy and uncomfortable when water got into them. The solution to these problems was sandals with straps that were both safe and functional. Below is a photo from that time.

In recent years, Teva has made its presence felt on the fashion scene, but the company's origins lie in high-performance sports sandals that were originally designed for safe and comfortable activities. Today, as a fashion item supported by a wide range of people, the company's focus remains unchanged.

To commemorate the 100th anniversary of the establishment of the Grand Canyon National Park, Teva donated $100,000 to the Grand Canyon Nature Conservancy. The money is being used to maintain the Bright Angel Trail and to support youth development programs that are part of the park's environmental education efforts. This shows how much Teva values and respects its roots in the Grand Canyon.

Now, let's actually walk on the Bright Angel Trail, which is said to have been maintained by Teva.

In general mountain climbing, you gain altitude toward the summit, but in the case of the Grand Canyon, it is the opposite. You descend toward the valley floor and lose altitude rapidly. It is not mountain climbing, but descending. It is a strange feeling.

This beautiful trail stretches along the canyon. There are no dangerous spots if you walk normally, but accidents such as slips and falls can occur, so be on your guard.

The cliffs seen from below are different and more powerful than those seen from above. The countless geological formations carved into the red rock surface remind us of the history of the earth.

While walking along the trail, a squirrel unexpectedly appeared from the bushes on the side of the road. In addition to squirrels, the Grand Canyon is said to be home to a variety of wildlife, including deer, coyotes, and bats.

Teva's sandals are easy to walk in and extremely comfortable. The openness of the sandals is pleasant and addictive.

This feeling is so good, you can't help but run! Teva's strapped sandals hold your feet in place so you can run.

Trail maintenance in places. Frequent inspections seem to be essential so that everyone can walk the trails safely and securely.

According to the guide who showed us the Bright Angel Trail, about half of the visitors to the Grand Canyon only admire the view from the top of the canyon and do not walk the trail. It is true that the view is more than enough to enjoy the spectacular scenery. But it seems a bit of a waste. When you visit the Grand Canyon, I recommend that you walk the trails, even if only for a little while. One of the guides thanked Teva for making the Bright Angel Trail so beautiful and safe to walk on.

Incidentally, the starting point of the Bright Angel Trail is about 2,100 meters above sea level, and the Colorado River is about 700 meters above sea level at the end of the canyon; the difference is as much as 1,400 meters, and it is considered quite difficult even for physically fit people to make the round trip in one day. This time, we had to turn back halfway due to time constraints, but we would like to visit this area again someday and take our time to go down to the river at the bottom of the valley.

The fact that Teva was born here in the Grand Canyon is very important. No other brand was born in such a spectacular place. I think it's amazing.

So says Nadine Marshall, who was responsible for the design arrangement of the GC100 Collection.

The design of the GC100 Collection is a fusion of various elements, such as the grandeur of the Grand Canyon and the beautiful colors of nature. The blue represents water, the brown is earth, and the yellow is the sun. The triangle shape represents the tri-ring shape, which is both a Native American symbol and Teva's identity.

Nadine, a former climbing enthusiast and outdoor store employee, became a freelance designer in 1993, and has been involved with Teva as an outside designer for 26 years. Teva has been involved in the design process as an outside designer for 26 years, from 1993 to the present.

Teva is an essential part of my life. It's like I'm married to it. The origin of Teva is the Colorado River, which flows at the bottom of the Grand Canyon valley, or water. It was water that gave life to the earth in the first place, and mankind was born from water. Water is the root of everything. In other words, for Teva, the Grand Canyon is not only the place where the company was founded, but it is also the most important "soul" of the brand.

In the United States, the Grand Canyon is a mystical and spiritual place that holds special meaning for many people," said Anders Bergstrom, general manager of the Teva brand at the company's U.S. headquarters.

Fuji is a special place for everyone in Japan. Teva was born in the Grand Canyon, which is almost like being born on top of Mount Fuji in Japan. The fact that Teva was founded in the Grand Canyon is of such significance.

Over the past few years, "Teva" has been gaining support in the fashion scene in Japan and around the world. However, Teva was not born as a fashion brand, but has its roots in the Grand Canyon, where the spirit of adventure that supports the feet of active people who enjoy life in their own way originated. I would like many people to know that."