Founded in Finland in 1916, Karhu initially gained international recognition in the 1920s through Finland’s phenomenal track team who became known internationally as the Flying Finns. Since then Karhu has been at the forefront of performance and innovation in athletic footwear including developing the first air cushioned sole in the 1970s and Fulcrum technology in the 1980s.

Karhu's grounded approach and quality footwear has earned them a cult following amongst sneaker heads and style aficionados.