In the seventy-plus years since their inception, the Moomins have inspired countless comic strips, animated series, art installations, theme parks, and—with a little help from KARHU—footwear collaborations.
The KARHU x Moomin collaborations celebrate these cherished Finnish originals by drawing inspiration from the characters, colours, and fonts of Moominvalley. Look closely at the collection and you will see the iconic figure of Moomintroll —with his wide eyes, perky ears, and oversized snout— gracing the upper of each silhouette.
For this release, the KARHU design team was directly influenced by the story of Moominpappa at Sea, which they have sourced to introduce new colourways of both the Fusion 2.0 and Aria 95.
The “India Ink / Chambray Blue” Fusion 2.0 is constructed from micro perforated suede and ballistic nylon and dressed in tones that evoke the Moomins’ journey at sea to find a new home. The “Dawn Blue / Sleet” Aria 95 utilizes sturdy mesh and a reflective M-logo as a nod to the rocky island lighthouse where the family eventually lands.
To help bring the collection to life, KARHU visited the island of Kailo, home to Moominworld, to photograph each silhouette in a setting recreated from the stories.
The KARHU x Moomin collaboration will be available beginning on Friday, the 4th of February at KARHU.COM, both KARHU Concept Stores in Helsinki (Finland) and Verona (Italy) and select retailers worldwide.
The Moomins are the central characters in a series of books and a comic strip by Swedish-Finn illustrator and writer Tove Jansson, originally published in Swedish by Schildts in Finland. They are a family of trolls who are white and roundish, with large snouts. The carefree and adventurous family lives in their house in Moominvalley, though in the past their temporary residences have included a lighthouse and a theatre. They have many adventures along with their various friends.
Tove Jansson is a Swedish-speaking Finn who enjoyed a diverse career as an author, painter, graphic artist, and cartoonist. Made famous as the creator of the Moomins, Jansson is the most widely read Finnish author abroad. Her books have been translated into over fifty languages and hold a special place in the hearts of both children and adults worldwide.
In sizes 35-49
The Fusion 2.0 is a salute to the original Karhu ‘Fusion’ model from 1996 when it was the top running shoe in the collection. To bring back the ‘Fusion’ from the archives, Karhu reworked the model with its original designer and launched it as the Fusion 2.0.
In sizes 35-49
The Aria 95 featured two technological innovations in running footwear: an internal carbon fiber fulcrum in the midsole for a smooth transition, and a mono tongue upper construction for added comfort. This iconic 90s Karhu model is an easy to wear and comfortable shoe and remains an integral part of the SS22 Karhu Legend collection.
