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Please help improve this article by adding reliable references. Unsourced material may be challenged and removed. (July 2007) Vibram S.p.A. Type Private Industry Footwear Founded 1937 Headquarters Italy Products Rubber soles, footwear, disc golf discs Website http://www.vibram.com/

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 soles for shoes. These soles were first used on mountaineering boots.

The soles produced by Vibram are called Vibram soles, Vibram rubber, or simply Vibram.

1 History 2 Current products 3 See also 4 References 5 External links [edit] History

In 1935, the deaths of six of Bramani's mountaineering friends in the Italian Alps was partly blamed on inadequate footwear. The tragedy drove Vitale Bramani to develop a new climbing sole.[1] Two years later, he patented his invention and launched the first rubber soles on the market with a tread design called the "Carrarmato", 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.

[edit] Current 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.

In the United States, Vibram soling products are manufactured under exclusive license by Quabaug Corporation.

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.

Among the footwear manufacturers that use Vibram soles on their products are Altberg, BRASHER, ECCO, Mammut, Red Wing Shoes, Wesco, Deckers Outdoor Corporation, The North Face, Tsubo, Scarpa, Meindl, Garmont, La Sportiva, Salewa, Saucony, Crispi, Corcoran, Keen Footwear, Pro-tec, Rohan, Merrell, Timberland, Chaco, Lacoste, L.L. Bean, Lowa, Wolverine, Asolo, Tecnica, Rockport, Columbia Sportswear, Nike-ACG, Hi-Tec, Limmer, Montrail, Frye, Bates Footwear,VIBRAM KSO Trek, Mountain Equipment CO-OP, Danner and Bestard. Some high profile collaborations include Giorgio Armani, Prada Sports, Dolce & Gabbana, Lundhags, Hugo Boss and Alden Shoe Company,Cheap Ed Hardy T-Shirt, Rowlands Brother.[citation needed]

Vibram has also started production on a line of disc golfing discs. They have created various new types of midrange and long range drivers but are currently in the process of releasing them.

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