Karhu

The company name changes to Karhu, the Finnish word for “bear”. The Flying Finns dominate tracks around the world garnering much recognition for Karhu, and Paavo Nurmi wins nine Olympic gold medals in the now famed Finnish footwear.

Karhu dominates the 1952 Olympics Games in Helsinki with fifteen gold medal performances, three of which come on the feet of Emil Zatopek. Riding the wave of success, Karhu sells its three stripes trademark to a now well-known athletic shoe company that still uses it to this day.

1960

Karhu officially registers its famous M-logo—the only trademark used in running shoes—meant 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.