Keen opens production facility in Europe

By

Sarah Ahssen

Published
Jan 27, 2015

Keen, the American outdoor footwear brand founded eleven years ago, is opening a production site in Europe. Located in Romania and opened in partnership with an Italian industrialist, the site will also enable the study of the specificities of the European market.

At the facility, Keen will exclusively manufacture closed-toe shoes, producing three high-end hiking models. The first models, which have been labeled "European Made”, will be available for fall-winter 2015/2016. 

"Our distributors will be able to count on even greater quality, production in line with demand, shorter delivery times, greater continuity in fashion design, as well as a basic range of models that will continue to be available," said John Jansen, managing director and head of Keen EMEA.

To link up product development in the US with the demands and needs of the European market, Selim Say, introduced as a recognized expert in Germany, has been appointed Keen’s product line manager EMEA.

Four years ago, the brand opened its own factory at its headquarters in Portland, Oregon.