Karhu is founded in 1916 by Ab sportartiklar Oy. Ab establishes a small workshop in downtown Helsinki and begins crafting locally sourced birch into skis, javelins, and discuses. The workshop eventually develops running shoes which land on the feet of Ville Ritola and Hannes Kolehmainen, the first “Flying Finn”.

Karhu dominates the 1952 Olympics Games in Helsinki with fifteen gold medal performances. 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.