Vibram

Vibram S.p.A. is an Italian company, which is based in Albizzate, Italy, that both manufactures and licenses the production of Vibram branded rubber outsoles for footwear. The company is named after its founder, Vitale Bramani,[1] who is credited with inventing the first rubber lug soles.[2] Vibram soles were first used on mountaineering boots, replacing leather soles fitted with hobnails or steel cleats, commonly used up until then.

Vibram S.p.A.
TypePrivate
IndustryFootwear
Founded1937
Headquarters
Albizzate
,
Italy
ProductsRubber Soles
Footwear
Disc Golf Discs
Websitewww.vibram.com

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

History
Detail of original Vibram “Carrarmato” lug sole design, with the yellow emblem of Vibram (2011)

The deaths of six of Bramani’s mountaineering friends, in the Italian Alps, on September 15, 1935, was partly blamed on “inadequate footwear”. The tragedy drove Bramani to develop a new climbing sole.[3] Two years later, he patented his invention and launched the first rubber lug soles on the market, with a new tread design called the “Carrarmato" (i.e., “tank tread”), with the financial backing of Leopoldo Pirelli of Pirelli Tyres.

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. The first successful ascent, to the summit of K2, was made by an Italian expedition, wearing Vibram rubber on their soles, in July 1954.[4]

A new, inaugural, “Vibram Academy” opened in London on September 29, 2016, this being located on City Road, in the capital’s geograph.[5] Another inaugural store opened in Boston on April 14, 2012, this being located on 292 Newbury Street, to showcase their FiveFingers line of glove styled shoes.[6] The shop was relaunched in April 2020, eight years after originally opening.[7]

Products

Today, Vibram soles are manufactured in Brazil, China, Italy, the Czech Republic, and the United States, and are used by more than 1,000 footwear manufacturers in their footwear products.[8] Vibram is well known for pioneering the movement of barefoot running, with the FiveFingers line of shoes, which mimic the look, and mechanics, of being barefoot.[9]

In the United States, Vibram soling products are manufactured under exclusive license by Quabaug Corporation of North Brookfield, Massachusetts, which was acquired by Vibram in June 2015.[10][11] Although the brand is best known among the outdoor and mountaineering community, Vibram produces numerous models of soles which are specifically designed for fashion, military, rescue, law enforcement, or industrial use.

Vibram also produces soles which are used exclusively for footwear resoling. Vibram also produced a line of discs, for the sport of disc golf, although they announced, in February 2018, their exit from supporting the sport.[12] They have released several putters, and fairway drivers. Vibram soles were also used as a product placement for Bee Movie, which was released in October 2007.[13]

Controversies

A lawsuit was filed against Vibram, in April 2012, over claims made about their Vibram FiveFingers, their minimalist shoe.[14] Vibram claimed that the shoe “reduce(s) foot injuries, and strengthen(s) foot muscles.” A controlled study, published in July 2013, showed that the risk of bone marrow edema among new wearers, was actually increased, during their respective periods, of transition to minimalist shoes.[15]

While Vibram has, according to court papers, expressly denied “any actual or potential fault… or liability” on May 7, 2014, it was announced that the company had moved to settle the suit, and agreed to set aside $3.75 million to pay refunds of up to $94, to anyone who had purchased the product since March 21, 2009.[16][17]

References
  1. "Vibram Five Fingers Roots". May 18, 2015. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  2. "Vibram FiveFingers Roots". www.vibram.com. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 18 May 2015. Retrieved 18 May 2015.
  3. "Inventor of the Week: Archive". Web.mit.edu. 24 April 2008. Archived from the original on 24 April 2008. Retrieved 14 June 2010.
  4. "The original Vibram sole". vintageexpeditions.wordpress.com. January 14, 2019. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  5. "A new Vibram Academy opens in London". eu.vibram.com. September 29, 2016. Retrieved October 4, 2020.
  6. "Vibram has inaugurated a special store at 292 Newbury Street..." sgieurope.com. April 16, 2012. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  7. "Vibram Relaunches Boston Newbury Street Store". fdra.org. April 16, 2020. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  8. "VIBRAM > About Us > Facts & Figures". www.vibram.com. 5 January 2021. Archived from the original on 25 August 2012. Retrieved 25 August 2012.
  9. "FiveFingers". Vibram. Retrieved August 11, 2012.
  10. "Vibram USA Acquires Quabaug Corporation". snewsnet.com. June 2, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  11. "Vibram acquires Quabaug". rubbernews.com. July 2, 2015. Retrieved January 5, 2021.
  12. "Vibram Shutting Down Disc Manufacturing". Ultiworld. February 20, 2018. Retrieved August 23, 2018.
  13. "Vibram Boots in Bee Movie (2007)". productplacementblog.com. May 23, 2019. Retrieved September 27, 2020.
  14. David Quick (April 9, 2012). "Lawsuit filed against Vibram FiveFingersVibram hits its stride". postandcourier.com. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  15. Ridge, ST; Johnson, AW; Mitchell, UH; Hunter, I; Robinson, E; Rich, BS; Brown, SD (July 2013). "Foot bone marrow edema after a 10-wk transition to minimalist running shoes". Med Sci Sports Exerc. 45 (7): 1363–8. doi:10.1249/MSS.0b013e3182874769. PMID 23439417.
  16. "Vibram in $3.75m settlement over false health claims". bbc.co.uk. May 8, 2014. Retrieved November 22, 2020.
  17. Bernstein, Lenny (May 8, 2014). "People who bought these Vibram FiveFinger shoes may be entitled to a refund". Washington Post. Retrieved May 8, 2014.
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