Karhu

Karhu, meaning bear in Finnish, was established in Finland in 1916 by the company Ab Sport Artiklar, which used a bear as its logo. In 1920, Ab Sport Artiklar changed its name to Karhu. In the 1920’s and 30’s Finnish athletes dominated the summer olympics wearing Karhu spikes. In 1951 Karhu sold the three stripes trademark it had been using to a then little known German brand called Adidas for the equivalent of 1600 euros and two bottles of whiskey. In the 1960’s Karhu began to use the famous M-symbol, the sign of Karhu designer duo Mäntylä brothers, which is still in use on Karhu shoes. Hundreds of Olympic and World Championship medals have been won with Karhu gear in different events.