Keen opens manufacturing plant in Central Eastern Europe

Keen, the leading US outdoor footwear brand which was established eleven years ago, is launching a manufacturing production line in the Central Eastern Europe (CEE) region. The site will be located in Romania and opened in partnership with a leading Italian industrialist, the site will also allow for the research and study of the specificities of the Central European marketplace enabling Keen to respond better to market conditions.

At the plant, Keen will exclusively manufacture closed-toe shoes, manufacturing 3 high-end hiking models. The first models, which will be tagged "European Made”, will be available for autumn-winter 2015/2016.

"Our distributors will be able to expect even greater quality, production in line with demand, lower shipping and delivery as well as better continuity in fashion design, in addition a standard choice of models will continue to be available," stated  John Jansen, managing director and head of Keen EMEA.

To link up product development in the USA with the requirements of the Central European market, Selim Say, introduced as an acknowledged expert in Germany, has been chosen as Keen’s product line manager EMEA.

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