KEEN FOOTWEAR BRINGS ITS QUIRKY VIBE TO LIVING ROOMS, LAUNCHING FIRST PRINTED “KEEN ZINE” PROVIDING ESCAPE FROM DIGITAL OVERLOAD

PORTLAND, Ore. (May 20, 2021) – ​Using 100% fan generated imagery, KEEN, Inc. (KEEN), the global footwear brand on a mission to make the outside more inclusive and accessible to all, is debuting a fun and quirky escape from digital clutter through the “KEEN ZINE”, the brand’s first printed consumer piece. Encouraging its fans to live life outdoors and to play a role in detoxing the planet, the colorful “zine” shares real life customer stories and images, product design and inspiration. The first issue will be mailed this week.  

The cover is an arresting photo of Lydia Meek, a KEEN fan since 2005 who became an amputee in 2016 after a motorcycle accident. Pictured in the photo is her right leg in a Terradora hiking shoe and her left leg prosthesis. Meek is a passionate outdoor enthusiast who goes outside every day in the woods in northern Georgia. KEEN learned of her story after she shared a photo on Instagram. 

“KEEN has and will always be an inclusive and welcoming brand,” said Erik Burbank, vice president of the KEEN Effect. “The KEEN ZINE is inspired by, and created with our Fans, like Lydia Meek whose selfie graces the cover. Outside is a powerful place for people, mentally and physically, and the KEEN Zine is designed to inspire and welcome everyone to live life outside.” 

In addition to Lydia’s powerful story and current product information, the KEEN ZINE is rich in brand history, technology firsts, details about its Detox The Planet initiative and The KEEN Effect, its social and environmental justice program that funds programs from access and inclusion outside, disaster relief and protecting wild places.

KEEN’s Detox the Planet Initiative was established in 2014 to take proactive action to identify and remove harmful chemicals in its supply chain and replace them with safe and effective alternatives. 

KEEN is committed to eliminating everything that shouldn’t be in their products and discovering eco-friendly alternatives. KEEN’s footwear has been PFC Free since 2018, 100% of their leather comes from zero liquid waste tanneries, and they have eliminated all antimicrobials and biocides from their footbeds.  They’re aggressively working to find innovative solutions to harvesting and upcycling waste, use the earth’s resources wisely and lessen their overall impact on the planet.

To learn more about KEEN Effect, visit www.keenfootwear.com/the-keen-effect.html

About KEEN

Driven by a passion to make the outside and trades accessible for all, KEEN is a values-led, family-owned footwear brand from Portland, Oregon committed to creating original and versatile products, enhancing lives, and inspiring adventures outside. Founded in 2003, it launched a revolution in the  footwear industry with the debut of the Newport adventure sandal. It continues to launch game-changing products and establish new standards for performance, comfort, and design while actively working to Detox The Planet. The brand formalized its values commitment under the banner of The KEEN Effect.  Learn more at www.keenfootwear.com

Media Contact:
Morgan Lang
mlang@fwv-us.com
919.637.0990