Karhu

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Karhu ( Finnish : bear) is the name of a Finnish sporting goods manufacturer. The owner has been Karhu Holding BV since 2008

history

The company was founded in 1916 under the name Ab Sport Artiklar Oy . In the 1920s the name was changed to Karhu . At that time the production was in Porvoo and Helsinki , mainly discuses and spears , but also running shoes . One of the athletes competing with the company's products was Olympic champion Jonni Myyrä from the flying finns javelin throwing team, which took the first four places at the 1920 Olympic Games .

In the 1930s the product range was changed and expanded. Also Paavo Nurmi is now one of the appointed by Karhu athletes.

During the Second World War , Karhu produced uniforms , tents , skis and shoes for the Finnish army . After the war, sporting goods were made again. At the Olympic Games in 1952 , Karhu was one of the most important sports shoe manufacturers. The typical three stripes that adorned the products were sold as a brand to Adidas , according to the company for around 1,600 euros and two bottles of whiskey . From now on, Karhu's running shoes are marked with an M , the first letter of the designer Mäntylä.

From 1965 nylon is used for shoes. The Air cushion system is introduced in the 1970s . Over 1,000,000 pairs of the Champion shoe are sold. In the 1980s, Karhu developed the Fulcrum system for its running shoes.

In the 1990s, Merrell's outdoor division was sold. In 2008 the company was taken over by a group of investors. In 2009 the Karhu strong fulcrum ride shoe won the Runner's World Best debut award .

Well-known athletes

Successful athletes with the company's products include Jonni Myyrä , Urho Peltonen , Pekka Johansson , Julius Saaristo , Paavo Nurmi , Olavi Suomalainen , Harri Kirvesniemi and Marja-Liisa Kirvesniemi as well as Normann Stadler .

Web links

Individual evidence

  1. ↑ The history of the Adidas logo. Retrieved May 29, 2018 .
  2. ↑ How Finland Gave adidas Its 3-Stripes . In: TSMP . April 1, 2017 ( thesportsmarketingplaybook.com [accessed May 29, 2018]).