Vibram’s history starts in 1937 in Albizzate, a small town on the outskirts of Milan. After a tragic incident in the Alps, Vitale Bramani decides to develop a new rubber sole that ensures durability, withstands the harsh mountainous conditions, and guarantees extra grip, collaborating with Pirelli Tires to develop a new kind of rubber and debuting with the first Vibram branded item: the Carrarmato sole, still in auge. Read more…
Vibram’s commitment to high-quality materials and forward-looking design practices enables global recognition, quickly becoming the go-to choice for outdoor sneakers. Vitale Bramani’s friend's fatal incident moves the founder to find an adequate replacement for the antiquated hiking boots’ leather soles with hobnails or steel cleats, replacing them with vulcanized rubber rug soles. In 1952 the Vibram soles’ efficiency gets tested on K2, conquered by a team of Italian adventurers using the newly introduced rubber sole on their boots, testing different models developed by the Italian outdoor supplier: trekking shoes, approach shoes, altitude shoes, up to high altitude. In the following years, its popularity spreads all over the world, with the relentless introduction of new models and new features, satisfying the increasing needs of climbers, hikers, and extreme adventurers. Vibram imposes itself as a stand-alone brand when in 2002 introduces its most recognizable sneaker design: the revolutionary Five Fingers, which mimics the natural contour of the human foot, offering users an experience close to barefoot walking and running. The cross-utilization of Vibram soles moves hand-in-hand with the rising of gorpcore trend when GORE-TEX® jackets and functional clothes appear in the urban scenario, trail shoes replace classic sneakers, and performance brands like Hoka start proliferating. Vibram’s strong Italian craftsmanship heritage remains undisputed through the years, with the brand becoming a supplier also for smart shoes, high-fashion and hybrid-conceived projects, like the Italian-born company ROA.