HANON x Karhu Legacy 96 'Highland Games'

April 15, 2022

This Spring, for our inaugural collaboration, HANON and Karhu come together to present a Highland Games inspired edition of the Legacy 96.

The Highland Games are an annual event celebrating Scottish tradition and Celtic culture that dates back hundreds of years to a time when clan chiefs and noblemen were entertained by trials of strength and physical endurance.

Held during the summer months and featured throughout the country, the games to this day extend across the globe and gatherings can often be found in far-flung places where there is a large Scots diaspora. Widely considered to be the inspiration for what is the modern version of the Olympics, each Highland Games follows a common theme and includes a host of activities such as the shot put, hammer throwing, caber toss and tug-o-war.

Unearthed from Karhu’s back catalogue of heritage training shoes and drawing from the spirit of the games, the Legacy 96 is presented in a unique execution by HANON and looks to the rich colour spectrum associated with highland dress and the great outdoors. The shoe features a premium upper of rugged suede and mesh whilst pony hair detail appears throughout as a salute to the kilt sporran.

Attention to detail appears throughout the Legacy 96 - accents of purple are highlighted on the upper whilst dual branding can be found, debossed on opposing heels and executed as a heraldry lockup on woven tongue labels. A bespoke tartan pattern appears on the footbed and is mirrored on a custom-made box whilst an interchangeable tongue set and three lace sets are included to mix and match the colour palette.

The HANON x Karhu Legacy 96 ‘Highland Games’ was released in May 2022. 

Product Details -

SKU Code: F806028
Colour: Smoke Gray / Trekking Green
Price: £125.00.
Size Break: UK4 / UK4.5 / UK5 / UK5.5 / UK6 / UK6.5 / UK7 / UK7.5 / UK8 / UK8.5 / UK9 / UK9.5 / UK10 / UK10.5 / UK11 / UK12

There will be an accompanying apparel collection which will be released in conjunction with the HANON Legacy 96 and is offered as a strict limited edition only from Friday 22nd April on www.hanon-shop.com.

With thanks to Charlie Murray, Honorary Life Member of the BRHS.

“I started my interest in Highland Games when I was asked to join the Forfar Tug of War Team in 1978, and I pulled with that team until it stopped in 1985, enjoying a lot of success and some formidable challenges. A new team was formed in 1995 and continued until 2000, however, me and two other members were approached to join Elgin, which resulted in another 10 years of formidable challenges and success.”

“Tug of War is one of the aspects of the Games that is struggling, but this might readdress itself, only time will tell. I personally feel that I have competed with and against the best, and seen the best involved in this sport over the last 40 years. However, I hope that this sport returns as it is a real crowd pleaser.”

“I joined the Forfar Highland Games committee (now known as the Strathmore Highland Games) in 1999, then I was elected on to the Governing Body of Highland Games (known as the Scottish Highland Games Association) in 2002 and was elected as Vice President in 2011 before becoming President in 2014 serving a two three-year term. Since then, I have been Vice President and Director of Development.”

..“Highlights for myself were representing the Braemar Gathering at the official opening of the 2014 Commonwealth Games in Glasgow, working with others to receive permission for His Royal Highness The Duke of Rothesay to be our Patron and receiving permission from Her Majesty The Queen for the governing body to be known as the Royal Scottish Highland Games Association. I was also very fortunate to see the beginning of the new Highland Games Visitor Centre in the grounds of the world famous Braemar Gathering, a testament to Highland Games and its athletes worldwide. The Highland Games are a big family and there is nothing better than celebrating a successful games with the committee and a good malt whisky.”

“The Highland Games were thought to have begun as Gatherings and Fairs held by Scottish Clans who would compete against each other to find the strongest, fastest, and fittest warriors. Evidence of these events can be traced to 2000 BC, but the Games as we know it today came about in early 1800. The World Famous Braemar Gathering was visited in 1838 by Queen Victoria, and her Royal approval has continued to the present day with Her Majesty The Queen and members of her family attending on an annual basis.”

“I am very fortunate to receive permission from the BRHS to be on the field on the day of the Gathering, it is something special to be able to look from the inside out. I was made an Honorary Life Member of the BRHS in 2021 something that in my foray into the Games I never thought possible.”

With thanks to all at the Braemar Royal Highland Games Charity.

Shot on location at The Princess Royal and Duke of Fife Memorial Park in Braemar, Scotland.

The Whisky...

As we celebrate an enduring friendship with Karhu, to mark this unique collaboration, we have specially selected a Glenfarclas 15 year old single malt Scotch whisky.

Independently owned and family run, the Glenfarclas distillery is situated in the heart of Speyside, deep in the Scottish Highlands. This special bottling, produced exclusively for HANON and Karhu is released to an edition of 348 at 51.5% ABV. Each bottle features a bespoke hand numbered labelling.

200 bottles will be made available for sale online via www.thespeysidewhisky.com from Friday 22nd April. A short run will also be released in-store at The Speyside Whisky Shop, Aberlour, Scotland.

The remaining bottles have been distributed to private collections.