Ab sportartiklar Oy opens a small workshop in downtown Helsinki and begins processing locally sourced birch into skis, javelin and discus.
The workshop eventually develops running shoes that land on the feet of Ville Ritola and Hannes Kolehmainen, the first "Flying Finn."
The company name changes to Karhu, the Finnish word for "bear."
Flying Finns dominate runways around the world garnering many accolades for Karhu and Paavo Nurmi wins nine Olympic gold medals in the now famous Finnish footwear.

1916
KARHU IS FOUNDED
Ab sportartiklar Oy opens a small workshop in downtown Helsinki and begins processing locally sourced birch into skis, javelin, and discus.
The workshop eventually develops running shoes that land on the feet of Ville Ritola and Hannes Kolehmainen, the first "Flying Finn."
The company name changes to Karhu, the Finnish word for "bear."
Flying Finns dominate runways around the world garnering many accolades for Karhu, and Paavo Nurmi wins nine Olympic gold medals in the now famous Finnish footwear.

1950
THE THREE STRIPS.
Karhu dominates the 1952 Olympics in Helsinki with fifteen gold medals, three of them on the feet of Emil Zatopek.
Riding the wave of success, Karhu sells its three-stripes trademark to a well-known sneaker company that still uses it today.

1960
SYMBOL M
Karhu officially registers its famous M logo, the only mark used in running shoes, intended to represent "Mestari," the Finnish word for "champion." Various designs of the M logo adorn Karhu shoes over the years and are still in use today.