THE ORIGINAL AIR CUSHION SHOE Initial Launch: Circa 1982 Back in the 1970s Karhu invented the first Air Cushion construction in the world. It stirred the attention and was copied by many prominent shoe companies. One of the most iconic Air Cushion shoes was the Albatross. A lightweight runner which appealed to both men and women. Karhu reaches back in to the archives to launch an exact replica of the iconic model.