Karhu Mestari

Karhu is a legendary sports brand founded in 1916 in Finland. The name Karhu, meaning “bear” in Finnish, embodies the brand’s blend of sophisticated silhouettes and colorways inspired by the Finnish landscape. Karhu made its debut on the global stage at the 1920 Antwerp Olympic Games, where Finnish athletes, known as the “Flying Finns,” won five gold medals on the track wearing Karhu spikes.

Decades later, Karhu sold its iconic three-stripes trademark to a then little-known brand called adidas for the equivalent of €1,600 and two bottles of whiskey. Karhu sneakers are built with “Fulcrum Technology,” developed in collaboration with the University of Jyväskylä in the 1980s. Today, the brand has expanded its product range and made its mark in the world of streetwear fashion.