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StuffMadeinMA.com • 2 0 2 1 • S T U F F 17 O riginating in the mountains of Italy and manufactured in the small town of North Brookfield, Vibram's rubber sole footwear designs and manufacturing has spanned three generations as the company has become a global leader in the footwear industry with more than 40 million soles globally produced each year. Headquartered in Albizzate, Italy, Vibram creates unique rubber compounds to engineer soles to withstand some of the harshest and most extreme conditions making them a must have for firefighters, hikers, soldiers, and other active fields. Vibram has been the largest supplier of U.S. military boot soles for the past 22 years. "If you're mountain climbing, jumping out of a fire, or climbing the mountains of Afghanistan, you want to make sure that sole works," said Kevin Donahue, a member of the company board of directors and the Vibram Advisory Board. Donahue has nearly 30 years' experience in the field and worked his way from salesman to owner of Quabaug Corp. before the company was acquired by Vibram in 2016. The North Brookfield manufacturing plant now serves as Vibram's North American headquarters. Vibram's past The story of Vibram began with an Italian mountaineer named Vitale Bramani. In 1935, six of Bramani's fellow mountain climbers died during an expedition on Mount Rasica due to frostbite and exposure to the extreme cold. Their conditions worsened due to poor footwear, which did not protect them from the elements. After the accident, Bramani used his wood carving skills to create a shoe sole design incorporating a Carramato or tank tread pattern he invented. The goal of this new tread was to provide greater traction and durability for the wearer. Bramani partnered with the rubber manufacturer of Pirelli Tires to create the first Vibram sole with Carrarmato. The shoe became the first footwear with rubber lug soles. From its founding, Vibram's focus was on providing safety solutions for the most difficult of environments, said Donahue. In 1945, Bramani opened his first production facility in Gallarate, Italy. He took pride in his invention and personally oversaw the manufacturing of the rubber soles to ensure their high-quality. Decades later, he created the distinctive gold Vibram logo as a way to show customers the high standards of care going into his products. Before its 2015 acquisition by Vibram, Quabaug Corp. was a local rubber manufacturer in North Brookfield that became Vibram's exclusive North American licensee and manufacturer in 1965. As the former owner of Quabaug Corp., Donahue said its strong military ties and similar values made the acquisition a natural fit. Vitale Bramani's grandson, Marco Bramani is at the helm as Vibram's CEO. For Donahue, this sense of family pride and legacy is not only experienced by Vibram history 1935 Six mountaineers die in the Italian Alps from frostbite and exposure due to poor footwear. This inspires Vitale Bramani to design shoe soles. 1937 Vitale Bramani patents his invention and launches the first Vibram sole with Carrarmato tread design. 1945 Bramani opens his first production facility in Gallarate, Italy. 1954 A team of Italian mountain climbers, equipped with special Dolomite boots with Vibram Carrarmato soles, conquers K2. It marks the debut of the specialization of shoes by using different models for each leg of the expedition: trekking, approaching march, altitude, high altitude. 1957 The new factory opens in Albizzate, Varese. Today, the factory - a former cotton mill - is one of the production and administration hubs of the company. 1964 The Quabaug Rubber Co. in North Brookfield becomes the exclusive licensee and manufacturer of Vibram soles in North America. 1967 Vibram joins the safety market, launching the Security sole, the first sole guaranteed for the life of the shoe. 1969 The logo becomes yellow gold, to highlight the new innovative Marca Oro (Golden Brand) compound. Over time, this yellow plate became the distinguishing sign on every Vibram sole and the company symbol. 1994 The company develops an eco-mix, which incorporates production scraps, capable of reducing waste and the use of virgin materials by up to 30%. 1998 Vibram starts sole production in China. 2004 Vibram develops FiveFingers, a foot glove, a second skin, changing the concept of walking barefoot. In 2006, FiveFingers is presented globally, being named one of the Best Inventions of 2007 by Time magazine. 2008 Vibram opens a flagship store in Milan. 2009 The Technological Center opens in China. 2012 Vibram opens its second experiential store in the heart of Boston. 2016 Vibram acquires Quabaug Rubber Co. Source: Vibram Vibram soles have been used in a variety of footwear, from mountain climbing to running. P H O T O | C O U RT E S Y O F V I B R A M Continued on page 18