Vibram
Encyclopedia
Vibram S.p.A. is an Italian company based in Albizzate
that both manufactures and licenses the production of Vibram-branded rubber
outsoles for footwear
. The company is named after its founder, Vitale Bramani. Bramani is credited with inventing the first rubber lug soles for shoes. These soles were first used on mountaineering boots, replacing leather soles fitted with hobnails or steel cleats, commonly used up until then.
The soles produced by Vibram are called Vibram soles, Vibram rubber, or simply Vibram.
friends in the Italian Alps was partly blamed on inadequate footwear. The tragedy drove Bramani to develop a new climbing sole. Two years later, he patented his invention and launched the first rubber lug soles on the market with a tread design called the "Carrarmato" (~ "tank
tread"), with the financial backing of Leopoldo Pirelli of Pirelli
Tires. The sole was designed to provide excellent traction on the widest range of surfaces, have a high degree of abrasion resistance and was made using the latest vulcanized rubber of the time.
In 1954, the first successful ascent to the summit of K2
was made by an Italian expedition wearing Vibram rubber on their soles.
Vibram is well known for pioneering the barefoot running movement with the FiveFingers
line of shoes that mimic the look and mechanics of being barefoot.
In the United States, Vibram soling products are manufactured under exclusive license by Quabaug Corporation of North Brookfield, Massachusetts
.
Although the brand is best known among the outdoor and mountaineering community, Vibram produces numerous models of soles specifically designed for fashion, military, rescue, law enforcement or industrial use. Vibram also produces soles for the sole purpose of footwear resoling.
Vibram also produces a line of disc golf
discs. They have released several putters and fairway drivers. Vibram's X-Link Compound is the first rubber based material to be used in a golf disc.
Albizzate
Albizzate is a town and comune located in the province of Varese, in the Lombardy region of northern Italy....
that both manufactures and licenses the production of Vibram-branded rubber
Rubber
Natural rubber, also called India rubber or caoutchouc, is an elastomer that was originally derived from latex, a milky colloid produced by some plants. The plants would be ‘tapped’, that is, an incision made into the bark of the tree and the sticky, milk colored latex sap collected and refined...
outsoles for footwear
Footwear
Footwear consists of garments worn on the feet, for fashion, protection against the environment, and adornment. Being barefoot is commonly associated with poverty, but some cultures chose not to wear footwear at least in some situations....
. The company is named after its founder, Vitale Bramani. Bramani is credited with inventing the first rubber lug soles for shoes. These soles were first used on mountaineering boots, replacing leather soles fitted with hobnails or steel cleats, commonly used up until then.
The soles produced by Vibram are called Vibram soles, Vibram rubber, or simply Vibram.
History
In 1935, the deaths of six of Bramani's mountaineeringMountaineering
Mountaineering or mountain climbing is the sport, hobby or profession of hiking, skiing, and climbing mountains. While mountaineering began as attempts to reach the highest point of unclimbed mountains it has branched into specialisations that address different aspects of the mountain and consists...
friends in the Italian Alps was partly blamed on inadequate footwear. The tragedy drove Bramani to develop a new climbing sole. Two years later, he patented his invention and launched the first rubber lug soles on the market with a tread design called the "Carrarmato" (~ "tank
Tank
A tank is a tracked, armoured fighting vehicle designed for front-line combat which combines operational mobility, tactical offensive, and defensive capabilities...
tread"), with the financial backing of Leopoldo Pirelli of Pirelli
Pirelli
Pirelli & C. SpA is a diverse multinational company based in Milan, Italy. The company, the world’s fifth largest tyre manufacturer, is present in over 160 countries, has 20 manufacturing sites around the world and a network of around 10,000 distributors and retailers.Founded in Milan in 1872,...
Tires. The sole was designed to provide excellent traction on the widest range of surfaces, have a high degree of abrasion resistance and was made using the latest vulcanized rubber of the time.
In 1954, the first successful ascent to the summit of K2
K2
K2 is the second-highest mountain on Earth, after Mount Everest...
was made by an Italian expedition wearing Vibram rubber on their soles.
Products
Today, Vibram soles are manufactured in Brazil, China, Italy and the United States, and are used by more than 1,000 footwear manufacturers in their footwear products.Vibram is well known for pioneering the barefoot running movement with the FiveFingers
FiveFingers
Vibram FiveFingers are a type of minimalist shoe manufactured by Vibram, originally marketed as a more "natural" alternative for different outdoors activities . The footwear has thin, flexible soles that are contoured to the shape of the human foot, including visible individual sections for the toes...
line of shoes that mimic the look and mechanics of being barefoot.
In the United States, Vibram soling products are manufactured under exclusive license by Quabaug Corporation of North Brookfield, Massachusetts
North Brookfield, Massachusetts
North Brookfield is a town in Worcester County, Massachusetts, United States. The population was 4,680 at the 2010 census.For geographic and demographic information on the census-designated place North Brookfield, please see the article North Brookfield , Massachusetts.- History :North Brookfield...
.
Although the brand is best known among the outdoor and mountaineering community, Vibram produces numerous models of soles specifically designed for fashion, military, rescue, law enforcement or industrial use. Vibram also produces soles for the sole purpose of footwear resoling.
Vibram also produces a line of disc golf
Disc golf
Disc golf is a disc game in which individual players throw a flying disc into a basket or at a target. According to the Professional Disc Golf Association, "The object of the game is to traverse a course from beginning to end in the fewest number of throws of the disc." Of the more than 3000...
discs. They have released several putters and fairway drivers. Vibram's X-Link Compound is the first rubber based material to be used in a golf disc.
External links
- www.vibram.com — Vibram company site
- www.vibram.us — Quabaug Corporation's U.S. Vibram site