# KEEN

> KEEN is a privately held American outdoor footwear and accessories brand founded in 2003 and headquartered in Portland, Oregon. Best known for the toe-protecting Newport hybrid sandal, KEEN designs hiking boots, sandals, casual shoes and safety work footwear (KEEN Utility) that blend outdoor performance with a durability-first, low-impact ethos it calls 'Consciously Created.' The company has been PFAS-free since 2018, uses recycled and agricultural-waste materials, manufactures part of its line in the U.S., and channels giving through The KEEN Effect. It sells direct-to-consumer online and through retail partners worldwide.

- **Founded:** 2003
- **Headquarters:** Portland, Oregon, United States
- **Founders:** Martin Keen (Co-founder & designer of the Newport sandal), Rory Fuerst (Co-founder)
- **Team size:** Approximately 920 employees
- **Products:** Newport Sandal, Targhee Hiking Boots & Shoes, UNEEK, KEEN Utility, American Built / KEEN Made
- **Notable:** Newport sandal named 'Launch of the Year' by Footwear News (2003), PFAS-free across the entire product line since 2018 - years ahead of 2025 regulatory bans, Redirected its full ~$1M advertising budget to 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami relief, founding Hybrid.Care

## Products & services

- **Newport Sandal** — The original hybrid water sandal with a protective toe bumper, quick-drying upper and secure fit - KEEN's signature product.
- **Targhee Hiking Boots & Shoes** — Waterproof hiking line offering stability, roomy toe box and durable traction for trails.
- **UNEEK** — Minimalist open-air shoe built from two cords and a sole, blending sandal, sneaker and design statement.
- **KEEN Utility** — Safety work footwear with steel/composite toes, slip resistance and electrical-hazard protection for the trades.
- **American Built / KEEN Made** — U.S.-assembled work boots and casual shoes made at KEEN's domestic factory with lower carbon footprint.
- **Sandals, casual & kids footwear** — Broad range of water shoes, casual slip-ons, winter boots and family/children's footwear sold direct and via retail.

## Achievements

- Newport sandal named 'Launch of the Year' by Footwear News (2003)
- PFAS-free across the entire product line since 2018 - years ahead of 2025 regulatory bans
- Redirected its full ~$1M advertising budget to 2004 Indian Ocean tsunami relief, founding Hybrid.Care
- Grew from a startup to an estimated $240M in revenue by 2011
- Operates U.S. footwear manufacturing (Portland since 2010; relocated/expanded to Shepherdsville, Kentucky in 2025)

## Latest updates

- **2025-01** — PFAS bans took effect in California, New York, France and Denmark - regulations KEEN had already met since 2018.
- **2025-06** — KEEN relocated its U.S. factory from Portland to Shepherdsville, Kentucky to roughly double American-made production and cut shipping distance.
- **2026-03** — Launched KEEN Made collection including U.S.-made Jasper models with vegan-verified uppers from 50% recycled polyester microfiber.
- **2024-04** — Launched the 'World's Cleanest Shoe' campaign, investing further in Consciously Created shoemaking.

## Links

- Website: https://www.keenfootwear.com
- LinkedIn: http://www.linkedin.com/company/keen
- Twitter/X: https://twitter.com/keen
- YouTube: https://www.youtube.com/user/KEEN
- Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/keen/
- Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/KEENcanada/
- TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@keen

---

Profile page: https://yespress.io/keen
Published by YesPress — https://yespress.io
Last updated: 2026-07-26