With its global “Long Lasting Confidence” campaign, Vibram has chosen to place durability – that is, the ability to maintain performance over time – at the heart of its narrative. This is not an entirely new concept, but rather the evolution of a value that has been part of the brand’s technological DNA since its inception, and which today takes on an even deeper meaning in its relationship with people, expressing not only a sole’s resistance to wear and tear but also the certainty of being able to rely on its reliability, step by step.

The fact that durability is a crucial factor in purchasing decisions is confirmed by a recent market survey conducted by the company amongst more than 10,000 consumers in seven key countries, including the United States, the United Kingdom, France, Germany, Brazil, China and Japan. The survey reveals that as many as 8 out of 10 respondents consider durability to be an important or decisive factor when choosing footwear, ranking it just behind comfort, which remains at the top of their overall preferences.

Looking in more detail at consumer expectations, this requirement takes on specific forms depending on the context of use, starting with the world of outdoor activities and trail running, where durability is the primary feature sought by 31.6 per cent of enthusiasts and translates into the promise of long-lasting performance – essential for covering long distances. In the world of work and safety within the Work & Safety range, where the percentage rises to 35.9 per cent—confirming it as the top priority for those working in demanding conditions—the concept instead becomes synonymous with unbreakability and heavy-duty construction, offering extreme durability to ensure consistent and safe performance even in the most gruelling situations. This central importance is also evident in the realm of traditional sporting performance, where durability goes hand in hand with the demand for stability for 31.6 per cent of respondents, whilst in everyday life the concept takes the form of ‘durable comfort’ – a perfect balance that combines everyday comfort with a shoe designed to stand the test of time.

“The research findings confirm a distinctive feature deeply rooted in Vibram’s heritage: durability – understood as the ability to guarantee long-lasting performance – is one of the attributes most strongly associated with the brand by consumers who are familiar with its history. This value complements equally well-established aspects of our identity, such as stability, comfort, grip, support and traction – all of which reflect Vibram’s ability to deliver safety and performance in all conditions and on every type of terrain,” emphasises Paolo Manuzzi, Global General Manager at Vibram. “This is a significant accolade, reflecting decades of research, innovation and technological development, and providing us today with a solid foundation on which to continue strengthening Vibram’s positioning. With this new campaign, we aim to highlight this very heritage, placing a concrete and distinctive value at the centre for our consumers and for the future of the brand.”

Building on a history spanning more than 80 years of innovation in rubber, Vibram is thus broadening the horizons of durability, transforming it into a promise of mutual and enduring trust that enables products to retain their original characteristics and allows people to enjoy their activities to the full. To convey this philosophy, the brand has planned a major global campaign launching in October 2026 across markets in Europe, the United States, China, Japan and Australia, developing the narrative through three short 15-second videos distributed across digital channels such as Meta, YouTube and TikTok, accompanied by an in-depth feature on the official Vibram.com website, thereby continuing to evolve its brand identity around the ability to design performance built to last.

The star feature of the new Elite Boxing Shoes is the Michelin sole, developed to offer grip, flexibility and support, guiding the athlete through the sport’s most dynamic movements. The circular tread pattern is designed to facilitate lateral movements, which are fundamental to a boxer’s footwork, whilst the wide contact surface helps ensure grip and durability. The flex grooves allow the sole to adapt to the foot’s movements, promoting natural mobility during movement and rapid changes of direction. A combination of technical features designed to offer the athlete control and freedom of movement in the ring. Rounding off the design is a specialised compound for indoor surfaces – soft, non-slip and non-marking – developed to provide good grip on flat, even surfaces without leaving marks on the floor.

The sole technology is complemented by a lightweight upper and a high-top design, featuring an additional ankle strap to provide greater support during movement and changes of direction.

With the Elite Boxing Shoes, Everlast and Soles by Michelin reaffirm the value of a partnership that puts technology at the service of performance. A fusion of sporting tradition and engineering expertise, in which every element of the tread is designed to meet the demands of boxing.

The world leader in high-performance insoles presents two new solutions set to mark a clear break with the past: OrthoLite® SCF™ ATPU and its dual-layer evolution, OrthoLite® SCF™ ATPU+Float, which embody the evolution of the supercritical foaming (SCF) process. Unlike traditional chemical foaming methods, which leave residues and compromise the purity of the materials, the SCF process utilises gas under supercritical conditions to expand the polymer. The result is an extremely cleaner production method, free from harmful chemicals, which creates a uniform, refined and incredibly high-performance cellular structure.

OrthoLite® SCF™ ATPU

The new OrthoLite® SCF™ ATPU formulation combines the proven performance benefits of aliphatic TPU (thermoplastic polyurethane) with innovative SCF technology. The result is a low-density material with a lightweight structure, designed specifically for footwear brands that refuse to compromise on weight and responsiveness. This insole stands out for a range of exceptional mechanical properties: enhanced rebound, extreme durability and hydrophobic nature (the polymer is inherently water-repellent). Thanks to these characteristics, OrthoLite® SCF™ ATPU is ideally suited to the most demanding environments in the sporting world, such as trail running, hiking and high-level athletic performance.

SCF Dual-layer (ATPU+Float)

Whilst the single-layer version represents a technological leap forward, the introduction of OrthoLite® SCF™ ATPU+Float completely redefines the boundaries of biomechanical comfort. OrthoLite® has, in fact, succeeded in combining the structural properties of expanded aliphatic TPU with the extreme lightness and high elasticity of OrthoLite® Float™, creating a dual-layer configuration.

In this advanced design, the ATPU compound acts as a solid and resilient base, whilst the upper Float layer maximises softness and breathability. This synergy offers unique benefits:

•    Superior cushioning: the dual-layer structure absorbs impacts in a differentiated manner, reducing joint fatigue.

•    Maximum breathability: despite its high performance, the foot enjoys a microclimate that remains cool and dry at all times.

•    Versatility of use: the elastic properties of the Float layer make this technology perfect not only for elite athletes, but for any footwear designed for an active lifestyle.

The Consortium, which brings together the leading Italian companies specialising in the production of sole leather and boasts an internationally recognised manufacturing heritage, received the award for excellence in the Italian supply chain at the MF Value Chain Awards 2026, held during the Milan Fashion Global Summit on 21 September.

 “This recognition confirms the value of a supply chain that combines quality, expertise and the ability to innovate. For Cuoio di Toscana, it is an incentive to continue promoting Italian know-how and forging new links with the international fashion world,” commented the board of Cuoio di Toscana.

It is precisely with this aim of forging new connections with the worlds of fashion, design and contemporary creativity that the collaboration with Paul Andrew came about; during Milan Fashion Week, he presented the new women’s capsule collection by Paul Andrew x Cuoio di Toscana, entitled He(ART). Developed through a dialogue between the Consortium’s expertise and the international designer’s creative vision, the collection centres on ‘The Fettuccine’, an ironic, sophisticated and deeply Italian tribute to Italian style.

The idea stems from the production of fettuccine and the possibility of applying a technology similar to that used for pasta to the material, allowing for precise control over thickness and length. In Paul Andrew’s design, thin strips of Tuscan leather become structural elements of the footwear, intertwining to create a unique silhouette.

The Covo (BG)-based company, which specialises in the production of elasticated fabrics for the fashion and sportswear sectors, made its return to LINEAPELLE from 15 to 17 September 2026 with its TREND Collection AW27/28. This was a selection of elastic ribbons that interpreted some of the season’s most recognisable motifs — from houndstooth to Prince of Wales check to animal prints — through the introduction of new textures, finishes and extensive customisation options. For the company, the trend collection once again represented not merely an image to be reproduced, but rather a guideline to be transformed into tangible materials, functions and applications, with the aim of providing designers, design studios and manufacturers with a repertoire of elastic solutions capable of engaging both with the season’s design languages and with the practical requirements of design and production.

Classic patterns such as houndstooth, Prince of Wales and animal prints have been incorporated into the collection as genuine starting points for different combinations and developments. The textures and finishes have expanded the expressive possibilities of elastic tape, whilst customisation has made it possible to adapt each solution to the brand’s identity and the specific application within footwear.

At LINEAPELLE, VERSATILITY 2026 – the concept through which Nastrotex-Cufra showcased the ability of its products to adapt to different styles, functions and designs – thus entered a new phase. Following the launch in February and the technical developments presented at PERFORMANCE DAYS, the September event highlighted the interplay between aesthetic research, customisation and industrial feasibility. The stand itself reflected this vision, presenting itself as a white, minimalist and open space, conceived as a neutral canvas on which materials, ideas and requests could take shape through direct dialogue with the team.

Deep-tech firm BeDimensional S.p.A. and the Tuscan-based company Dermacolor S.r.l., a specialist in tanning chemicals, have joined forces to launch Dermasoft Climaflex BDM. This innovative tanning auxiliary introduces two-dimensional crystals directly into leather processing, offering a concrete solution to the demands of high-value, discerning markets such as the automotive, footwear, clothing and technical leather goods sectors.

At the heart of this technology lies the seamless integration of BeDimensional’s advanced materials into the chemical formulations developed by Dermacolor. Laboratory tests have revealed extraordinary improvements: the application of these crystals increases resistance to bursting and tearing, with increases exceeding 80 per cent on certain types of leather. In addition to durability, the product guarantees exceptional thermal comfort, optimising heat dissipation and lowering the surface temperature by up to 5 °C. A major advantage for tanneries lies in the practicality of the innovation, which fits seamlessly into traditional workflows without requiring any modifications to existing machinery or production processes.

This project is not merely a technological milestone, but is rooted in a strategic and rapidly expanding region. Whilst Dermacolor has always operated in Castelfranco di Sotto, in the heart of the Tuscan tanning district, BeDimensional is pursuing a major industrial scaling-up programme that will soon see the establishment of a new production hub in Collesalvetti, in the Livorno area. Its geographical proximity within the Interporto Toscano Amerigo Vespucci logistics hub will enable the materials of the future to be directly linked to manufacturing excellence, harnessing unique and complementary expertise to accelerate the technological evolution of one of the districts that epitomises ‘Made in Italy’.

“Our collaboration with BeDimensional enables us to explore new frontiers in tanning chemistry, integrating advanced materials into solutions designed to meet the sector’s future needs,” commented Andrea Meucci, owner of Dermacolor. “This project stems from the convergence of research, practical experience and a focus on leather performance, with the aim of supporting the supply chain’s evolution towards increasingly innovative and functional products.”