The brand Vibram began in 1937, when founder Vitale Bramani designed a vulcanized rubber sole. By 1954 a team of Italian climbers summited K2 wearing Vibram-soled boots.
Continuing their path of innovation, Vibram introduced the Grip sole 1988, which was used subsequently by many of the greatest freeclimbing champions of the generation. In 1991, the company launched the first polyurethane (PU) innersole, or midsole, designed for shock protection.
Many design milestones later, Vibram forged their popular Five Fingers line of ultralight footwear, outfitting a legion of runners seeking a more barefoot running feel.
Incorporated in 1999, Vibram USA Inc. offers footwear for climbing, running, barefoot sports, fitness, water sports, yoga/Pilates, trekking, traveling, and after-sport products. Vibram USA Inc. is a subsidiary of parent company Vibram SpA, which was founded in 1953. The parent company's line of business includes the manufacturing of industrial rubber goods, rubberized fabrics, and miscellaneous rubber specialties.
In 2018, Vibram brought a mobile repair lab to Outdoor Retailer to resole boots bearing their brand name for a nominal fee.
Got a pair of old trailer runners needing new soles? The Vibram Sole Factor Mobile Lab will be at Outdoor Retailer from Thursday to Sunday upgrading attendees shoes on site. As one resoling option, the brand will premier new Litebase technology designed with 30 percent less sole ...read more
Keep up by reading Industry Buzz. Here are today's top headlines: Have a news tip? Email us at [email protected] Vibram is getting a new president. Michael Gionfriddo announced his retirement as the company’s president and CEO effective Dec. 31, and that Fabrizio Gamberini ...read more
Elevator Pitches are written by the company and edited for space and clarity. They do not express the opinions of SNEWS or its editors. Ride the elevator with Sam McCoubrey, general manager of AKU North America. This summer, AKU introduces the Tengu GTX and Tengu Low GTX. Both ...read more
Humor us for a moment. If you flip over your shoes, what brand is the rubber? This Monday, I sifted through my shoes to find a pair needing new soles. The Vibram Sole Factor crew was coming by that day as part of their second full year of touring the U.S., in partnership with ...read more
You say tomato, I say...wait, does anyone really say tom-ah-to? The waters are a little muckier with the Italian rubber outsole giant. We promise, we won't judge ... but apparently there IS a right way to pronounce Vibram. Oh, and full disclosure, we've been saying it the wrong ...read more
Everyone knows that some of the outdoor industry’s top brands are led by strong females — Rose Marcario of Patagonia, Sue Rechner of Merrell, Donna Carpenter of Burton, Rue Mapp of Outdoor Afro, Amy Roberts of Outdoor Industry Association, Deanne Buck of Camber Outdoors, and ...read more
Don’t throw those old kicks away: resole them. Vibram is making it easy, fast, and affordable. The maker of premium rubber products just launched the 2018 Sole Factor Tour with 50 dates in at least 15 states. The tour encourages customers to resole their favorite pair of ...read more
