Ryka™ was founded in 1987 by a woman named Sheri Poe. Frustrated with the lack of well designed shoes for women, Poe took her entrepreneurial spirit and decided to create a new footwear brand. Ryka is now privately owned by Brown Shoe Company; however, the brand's mission of enhancing women's lives through fitness and quality products has remained.

The Ryka brand is committed exclusively to women. The shoes are designed to contour to a woman's foot. Narrow in the heel and wider in the forefoot, Ryka shoes are molded specifically to the shape of a women's foot. Ryka's athletic apparel is distinguished by its technical performance fabrics and modern design details. The collections are constructed with a combination of lightweight technology, versatility, style, and function. This active woman's apparel is designed to move.

Over the years, Ryka has supported a number of women's programs, including providing grants to women, sponsoring breast cancer awareness events, and promoting women in endurance sports. Its support of women's fitness is rooted in the belief that woman's participation in fitness programs builds and strengthens her self-esteem and confidence.