Keen footwear was birthed by Martin Keen through an unusual pairing and love for sailing & sandals - in Portland, Oregon. Keen had worked as a shoe designer for big names like Saucony and Timberland, so with this experience he set out to create a hybrid shoe that would be comfortable enough to wear sailing on his boat whilst also remaining functional for the outdoors.
Though Keen sales have skyrocketed, and the shoes are sold globally, the company stays true to its humble roots. Their headquarters are still based in Portland, Oregon, and they have a small workforce in comparison to the footwear giants, of just 100 employees. They still boost the Portland economy, though, as they recently opened a new manufacturing plant in the city. They also opened the first Keen Garage in Portland, their legendary outlet store where you can find their fabulous shoes at incredible prices.
