HOKA shoes

HOKA, originally known as Hoka One One, is a high-performance footwear brand that revolutionized the running world with its maximalist shoe design. Founded in 2009 by Nicolas Mermoud and Jean-Luc Diard, two former Salomon employees, the brand was initially conceptualized in Annecy, France, with the goal of creating shoes that allowed for faster downhill running with better cushioning.

While the brand's design roots are French, HOKA is now a major American-owned global brand. Most of their manufacturing takes place in Asia, specifically in countries like Vietnam, China, and Cambodia, to meet high global demand. Today, HOKA is recognized as one of the fastest-growing footwear brands in the athletic industry, expanding beyond marathon runners into lifestyle and trail categories.

The brand is owned by Deckers Brands, an American footwear designer and distributor. Under Deckers' ownership, HOKA has transitioned from a niche mountain running brand to a mainstream powerhouse, maintaining its headquarters in Goleta, California, while leveraging a vast international retail network.