<WHAT'S KEEN?> KEEN Manufacturing
KEEN is popular for its comfortable fit and stylish designs, from the outdoors to town.
This time, we will be introducing KEEN's approach to manufacturing, titled "WHAT'S KEEN?"
The history of KEEN began in 2003 with a simple question from founder Rory First.
KEEN is an outdoor footwear brand based in Portland, Oregon, USA, with social contribution as the cornerstone of its business. Since its founding in 2003, KEEN has defined the outdoors as "anywhere with no ceiling," and has proposed innovative, multi-functional hybrid footwear that combines different concepts such as sandals and shoes, land and water, mountains and cities, comfort and functionality, and fashion and practicality.
Its innovative and versatile products are manufactured under the concept of CONSCIOUSLY CREATED , which promotes the reduction of environmental impact through the elimination of harmful substances such as PFAS and the use of recycled materials. In addition, the company is committed to promoting activities such as environmental protection, child support, disaster relief, and gender equality, calling them the KEEN EFFECT .
- KEEN EFFECT

Born for the outdoors, KEEN believes it has a responsibility to protect the places where we live, play and work.
Since our founding in 2003, we have been committed to environmental protection, disaster relief, gender equality, and climate justice with a strong desire to "change the world in a more positive way." This is the KEEN EFFECT, which is based on the concepts of CONSCIOUSLY CREATED, PROTECTING THE PLANET, and PROMOTING TOGETHERNESS. We may not be perfect, but we believe we have the power to create a better future.
This means "creating products with an awareness of the existence of the Earth and people."
24 billion pairs of shoes are produced on Earth every year. This means that the entire human race produces three pairs of shoes every year. KEEN shoes make up a small part of that, but since our founding, we have been working with the mission of "making shoes that do not put a burden on the environment for the future of the Earth." We call this "CONSCIOUSLY CREATED: A way of making shoes that is kind to the Earth and people."
KEEN shoes are packed with ingenuity, hard work, love, and a lot of attention to detail. Our shoes are made with about 100 parts, and each of those parts is an opportunity to reduce the negative impact we have on the environment.
For example, they've removed the ever-present chemical PFAS from all their products , vetted their sources to choose better leather, salvaged waste and upcycled it into comfortable KEEN shoes, and removed toxic adhesives from their best-selling hiking boots.
All of these decisions are part of a comprehensive effort to create shoes that last and can be enjoyed for a long time, because we believe durability equals longevity (sustainability).
<CONSCIOUSLY CREATED: Earth-friendly manufacturing> means "making things with awareness of the existence of the earth and people." As a shoe brand, this is the idea at the heart of KEEN, to protect the natural environment where many lives shine and to be a better existence for the earth. This is KEEN's mission since its founding in 2003, and it is also the reason why we continue to make environmentally friendly shoes with an eye on the future of the earth.
<CONSCIOUSLY CREATED: How to make things that are kind to the earth and people>
What is PFAS-free?
PFAS (Peripheral Fluorocarbons) are organic fluorine compounds that are known to be carcinogenic and have other health hazards. They are chemicals commonly used in water-repellent finishes for outdoor equipment, apparel, footwear, etc. KEEN began taking measures against PFAS in 2014 , and in 2018 More than 95 % of KEEN shoes , and as of 2024 , all products, are PFAS -free.
What we have introduced here is only a small part of the initiatives KEEN is taking, but we hope that by learning about these corporate attitudes, every single person living on Earth will be inspired to seriously consider the environment.
We plan to continue covering KEEN in the future.
KEEN'S PRODUCTS
NEWPORT COLLECTION
20 years The beloved KEEN founding model, NEWPORT. It can be worn barefoot, or with socks for a fun look. Recycled PE T. The polyester NEWPORT H2 is perfect for water activities! It's perfect for leisure, festivals, and everyday use. If you don't have a KEEN yet, we recommend it.

From the left: KEEN MEN NEWPORT H2 BLACK , KEEN NEWPORT H2 MONOCHROME/OLIVE DRAB , KEEN NEWPORT RETRO FRF 2024
UNEEK
A "unique" sneaker woven with two cords and one sole . Completed three and a half years after conception, the UNEEK is a representative KEEN model that fits any foot. Of course, it's perfect for leisure activities, but it seems to be seen more often on the streets these days. The color of your socks can be seen through the gaps in the knit, and it's also attracting a lot of attention as a fashion item. The cords and bungee cord parts are made from recycled PET material .

From left: KEEN MEN UNEEK BLACK/BLACK , KEEN MEN UNEEK DARK OLIVE/BLACK
JASPER
These outdoor sneakers are inspired by climbing shoes and are designed to be comfortable to wear. The shoelaces that go all the way to the toes allow you to adjust the fit. We hope you'll use them for a variety of occasions, from town use to light trekking. The wide range of colors is one of the reasons why they have so many loyal customers. Once you put them on, you won't want to let them go. We use leather that has been tanned in an environmentally friendly manner by a tanner certified by the environmental certification organization LWG (Leather Working Group).
