Karhu (sports brand)
| Formerly | Oy Urheilutarpeita |
|---|---|
| Company type | Besloten Vennootschap (Limited Liability Company) |
| Industry | Sports equipment, textile |
| Founded | 1916 in Helsinki |
| Headquarters | |
| Products | Sneakers, apparel |
| Parent | Karhu Holding B.V. |
| Website | karhu.com |
Karhu is a Finnish sports equipment company based on an originally Finnish brand, focused on running. Originally established as "Oy Urheilutarpeita" in 1916, it was renamed "Karhu" (meaning bear in Finnish) four years later. Karhu's line of products includes sneakers, t-shirts and jackets. In past years, Karhu also manufactured skis. In 2008, the company was sold to a group of investors organised under "Karhu Holding B.V.". The investors responsible for operations are Dutch/American businessman Huub Valkenburg and the Arese family from Italy. Karhu Holding B.V. is based in the Netherlands and is run by Emanuele Arese.
Karhu is renowned for having implemented the three stripes trademark, which was then sold to German company Adidas in 1952.