KARHU has been a pioneer in sports and innovation for a long time. With an authentic heritage in athletics and a deep commitment to Finnish principles of simplicity of design and running culture, KARHU has spent the last century and beyond developing world-class shoes and breakthrough midsole technologies.

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Karhu is celebrating its Heritage next fall with the release of her legendary silhouette from the 70s, the Mestari.

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The Mestari was launched in the 1970s with the first trademarked Air Cushion midsole in a performance shoe.

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“Mestari” is the Finnish word for champion, an allusion to the early days when KARHU shoes were called Mestarin Jalkinee, “the shoe of champions.”

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The Mestari immediately became a top seller, and Karhu's novel Air Cushion technology was imitated across the industry.

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The Mestari has now been re-texturised through the eyes of Pien Barendregt and Maxime van Namen in order to bring it back to the present and to honor its heritage.

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This intimate yet playful campaign directly reflects the “play dates” that the two creative minds Pien and Maxime spent together in textile stores to be inspired by the wide range of materials, textures and colors.

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Pien Studio is a design studio and fashion brand based in Amsterdam that focuses on textile design products.

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The Karhu Mestari is being released this month at selected retailers like Asphaltgold and HHV. Also keep an eye on our Sneaker Releases.

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Photos via KARHU