Co.Bo., 40 years of innovation combining performance and fashion

I believe that what makes Co.Bo. unique is its singular corporate journey, straddling seemingly irreconcilable sectors such as the field of luxury and the technical world of sport.

Being involved in tackling the technical developments of complex projects alongside international brands and then producing items for needs that at first glance seem so different has probably allowed the company to consolidate technical skills that most players in the Made in Italy supply chain are unable to offer.  

“We sell soles,” an American designer who has designed some of the world’s most iconic sports products confided to us years ago. For those of us at Arsutoria School who specialise in upper construction methods, this is a difficult statement to digest. But it is clear that being able to master the complex aesthetics of sneaker soles today, while at the same time being able to focus on different technical characteristics and performance parameters that often conflict with each other, requires in-depth knowledge of materials science and moulding technology.   

One might wonder what someone who has to create glamourous sneakers for a fashion house’s upcoming Paris show is looking for when they choose to work with a company that has a history of working with major sports brands and handling technical polymers such as Pebax, Nylon and Polyamide. The answer is simple: the ability to manage complexity and master the industrial process of injection moulding, which sometimes resembles an art form.

It is therefore not surprising that Co.Bo., in 2025, in the midst of an absolute crisis in the fashion industry, decided to invest heavily in Italy in the creation of an innovative structure capable of pushing the limits of manufacturing one step further. And that it has created, with courage and foresight, one of the first Italian factories completely dedicated to Super Critical Foaming.

 However, these technical skills would not mean much if the people involved were not respected in the industry for their competence, professionalism and honesty. These are values that have always distinguished Co.Bo., founded in 1984 by husband and wife Leonardo Procaccini and Rosanna Borroni.

“Leonardo wouldn’t let me get away with anything if he thought I was doing something wrong, but for him everything was black and white. He told you things as they were in an honest way and, if he made a mistake, he paid for it out of his own pocket,” a friend who has been working with this company for many years told me. “And I can only say good things about their sons: they have carried on the style of professionalism and competence that has always been the hallmark of Co.Bo.”.

So, best wishes to Co.Bo. for these 40 years of commitment and well-deserved success.