Safety Magazine

Diadora Utility ‘makes a splash’ at the May Day concert

For the fifth consecutive year, Diadora Utility is renewing its historic partnership with the May Day “Concertone,” outfitting the technical staff of the most anticipated concert of the year with safety apparel and footwear. And in this tireless behind-the-scenes world, where everything moves at a frenetic pace, Utility aims to amplify the message that “Safety Makes Noise.” To emphasize this message, there will be a photo reportage of the technicians working behind the scenes, as well as testimonials from the artists themselves, who, in a dedicated corner on the sidelines of their performances, will have the opportunity to highlight the importance of working safely.
A collective narrative, destined for the brand’s social media pages, to raise awareness of fundamental issues such as the protection of workers in every environment and context.
For the occasion, the new Glove A.Box will make its world premiere. This safety footwear embodies the cutting-edge technology of Diadora Utility, designed to achieve new performance milestones thanks to an innovative construction and a selection of materials that maximize breathability. On the one hand, the innovative A.Box construction, patented by Diadora, features a redesigned structure with side ventilation holes, specifically engineered to provide greater foot ventilation, and a midsole placement that enhances its cushioning and responsiveness; on the other hand, the use of Ariatex, the new-generation breathable membrane developed at the Diadora Research Center, which is completely PFAS-free, waterproof, breathable, and durable. This combination acts like a true “pump effect” with every step: while blocking water from entering, it allows excess moisture to escape much more easily, keeping the foot dry in all weather conditions.

The new Glove A.Box shoe
Women’s total look
Men’s total look  

TOMORROW, APRIL 29, IS WORLD LEATHER DAY

There is now just one day left until World Leather Day 2026, which will be celebrated tomorrow, Wednesday, April 29. Launched in 2022 through a collaboration between Leather Naturally and the Leather Working Group, World Leather Day represents an important opportunity to reaffirm that leather is a resilient, versatile, and durable material.
The theme chosen for this year’s edition, “Make It Leather,” is a genuine call to action directed at the entire supply chain. It is a message intended to highlight a paradigm shift—moving from a volume-based approach to one grounded in value, from a throwaway culture to one of durability, and toward consumption that is less influenced by trends and more focused on quality and artisanal tradition.
Leather Naturally is asking operators in the leather supply chain to do their part in spreading the message through their social media channels. To facilitate communication, it has prepared a toolkit that can help amplify the news.
Click HERE to download the toolkit

In search of stability in an unstable world

In this interview, Samer Al Jabi, TFL interim CEO, explains the complexity of the situation and the real impact of the Gulf conflict on global supplies.

Samer Al Jabi

How is the ongoing conflict in the Gulf region currently impacting TFL’s supply chain and operations worldwide?

“We are operating in an increasingly complex global environment. The ongoing conflict in the Gulf region is creating significant and sustained disruptions across logistics routes, energy availability, and raw material supply chains worldwide.
As with many industries, the leather sector relies heavily on interconnected global value chains-from raw material sourcing through to finished products reaching end markets. As a result, procurement conditions, freight flows, and production planning have all become considerably more challenging and less predictable”.

Are these developments limited to certain regions?

“Some regions are affected earlier or more strongly, but the impact is global. Recently, we have seen a particularly sharp spike in cost pressure in key sourcing and manufacturing regions such as India. Energy constraints and gas based production limitations there have amplified the situation. However, in an interconnected supply chain, we see the impact affecting our production facilities in all regions”.

Some observers point to easing crude oil prices. Would that not immediately improve the situation?

“That is a common misconception. Even if energy prices ease temporarily, it does not mean that supply chains will normalize overnight. This situation goes far beyond fluctuations in crude oil and gas prices. The Middle East accounts for roughly 25% of global commodity chemical exports, with the majority of these flows passing through the Strait of Hormuz; a critical chokepoint. What we are seeing is a disruption across the entire value chain: from raw materials and intermediates to production, transportation, and overall availability. Rebuilding inventories, restoring logistics flows, and stabilizing lead times will take months, not weeks”.

You also mentioned raw material availability. How serious is that issue?

“It is a very serious concern. The leather industry depends on a wide range of chemicals, many of which have been directly impacted by this crisis. For example, sulphur, urea, and ammonia are essential for beamhouse processes; phenol and other organic ingredients are critical for the wet-end; and acrylics, polyurethanes, and crosslinkers are key components in finishing. Quite simply, you cannot produce a finished leather article without consistent access to these inputs.
At TFL, we are relatively well positioned thanks to our diversified global production footprint and multiple sourcing options for raw materials, which have enabled us to maintain operations so far. However, the situation is becoming more challenging over time, and securing reliable access to these materials is increasingly critical to ensure we can continue to serve our customers effectively”.

TFL introduced temporary surcharges. Why was that step necessary?

“We introduced temporary surcharges to ensure continuity of supply. In the current environment, securing critical raw materials often comes at significantly higher costs, and this step was necessary to maintain reliable operations. From the outset, we took a transparent approach with our customers and partners, clearly communicating that these surcharges are strictly linked to specific cost drivers-such as product groups, manufacturing locations, and logistics routes. We also emphasized that this is a temporary measure, which will be reduced or removed as soon as conditions stabilize. We fully understand that surcharges are not welcome and can put pressure on customer relationships. However, acting early and transparently was the responsible decision to safeguard supply reliability. We continue to monitor the situation closely and are working every day with our suppliers and customers to ensure a smooth supply chain. Like everyone else, we hope for a swift resolution to the current challenges”.

S/S 2027 Materials and soles trends

The fashion, luxury and design sectors, together with the creative manufacturing industry, gathered at Fiera Milano Rho from 11 to 13 February for the presentation of the 2027 summer season.

There was a palpable sense of reassuring energy and vitality at the latest edition of LINEAPELLE, the 107th edition, despite the fact that the dates had to be brought forward due to the use of parts of the Fiera Milano Rho venue for some of the venues of the Milan-Cortina 2026 Winter Olympic Games, which led to a reduction in the number of trade visitors (around 16,000) from 99 countries. On the exhibitor front, 848 companies took part (436 tanneries, 290 accessory suppliers, 95 synthetic material suppliers, 27 others) from 33 countries, presenting their new collections of leathers, materials and accessories for the 2027 summer season.

Read the materials report
starting from page 18 of Arsutoria #506

Read the soles report
starting from page 122 of Arsutoria #506

nnovation and the search for materials and solutions capable of expressing a very high degree of naturalness and sophisticated craftsmanship throughout the supply chain were the key areas of focus for buyers, visitors and the LINEAPELLE projects. This was evident in the 22 installations in the INTERIORS area, a creative platform now in its third edition that fosters links between design firms and leather and materials manufacturers.

There was also great interest in the talks scheduled at the Fashion & Science Theatre: ranging from sector-specific sessions (such as in-depth discussions on regulatory and technical issues relating to the leather supply chain) to more fashion-focused events, such as the conversation between journalist Mariella Milani and designer Antonio Marras.

A significant development was the debut of a new trade fair partnership with FILO – the leading exhibition for the yarn and fibre sector – which gave visitors an even broader overview of the product range on offer.

The next edition of LINEAPELLE is scheduled for 15 to 17 September 2026, once again at the Fiera Milano Rho exhibition centre.

World Day for Safety and Health at Work: Vibram renews its commitment to Work&Safety

On the occasion of World Day for Safety and Health at Work, celebrated today, April 28, Vibram—the world leader in the production of high-performance rubber soles—explains how the yellow octagon has become a global symbol of protection and innovation. With over 80 years of experience, the company continues to transform the excellence it has cultivated in the outdoor world into essential safety standards for the professional sector.

WORK & SAFETY
Vibram’s Work & Safety division did not emerge as an isolated vision, but as a natural evolution of a mission that began in 1937, when the need to ensure traction and reliability on rugged terrain led to the creation of the first rubber sole for mountaineering. With the same goal of safety and stability, Vibram entered the safety footwear sector over sixty years ago, in 1964, when Red Wing, a prestigious U.S. footwear brand, recognizing the company’s excellence in the outdoor segment, initiated a collaboration to develop high-performance soles for work footwear as well. This marked Vibram’s debut in the industrial sector, with an initial focus on the U.S. market. In Europe, expansion has occurred more recently, driven by the growing need to raise safety standards and introduce increasingly advanced technologies, especially in the most complex work environments, where equipment is not merely an accessory but a natural extension of the worker in the footwear sector.

NEW PRODUCTS
In support of this commitment to setting new safety standards in the world of safety footwear, Vibram has recently developed and introduced the Megagrip Pro compound. This state-of-the-art solution is designed to offer even higher levels of traction, particularly for workers operating in outdoor environments and on uneven or unpredictable surfaces.
Megagrip Pro represents the professional evolution of the established Megagrip technology, which has long been considered a benchmark in the world of athletic footwear for its grip performance. Applied to the Work & Safety segment, this innovation brings the same standards of excellence to work environments where stability and control are essential for daily safety.

SAFETY AT VIBRAM
For Vibram, modern safety is driven by two key factors: materials research and constant engagement with the end user, who is no longer merely a recipient but becomes an integral part of the development and innovation process.
“At Vibram, everything starts with people. Truly standing by the worker means listening to them, understanding their needs, and interpreting the challenges they face every day, to transform all of this into the right product. Our innovation doesn’t just come from the lab, but from constant dialogue with those who put our products to the test every day: the user, who in this case is involved from the very first stages of development,” says Annalaura Gatto, EMEA Marketing Manager for Vibram’s Work & Safety division. “This approach allows us to turn real-world feedback into technical solutions that offer a tangible advantage in terms of safety and stability.”
 
COLLABORATIONS

As a testament to this commitment, Vibram has recently launched a partnership with the construction company Gheller. This collaboration, designed to support the development and testing phases under real-world conditions, enables the optimization of next-generation soles, ensuring that every design addresses the challenges professionals encounter in the field.
Vibram works closely with footwear brands that rely on its soles, providing comprehensive support: from the development of the initial concept to R&D proposals, all the way through to the final design. Workers who use safety footwear with Vibram soles can thus count on a technologically advanced product, tested in every detail to meet any need.
On this symbolic day, Vibram’s history in the safety footwear sector is confirmed as a journey of continuous evolution, where innovation and responsibility intertwine to contribute to a shared goal: protecting every worker, every day.

A stage in the production of soles

MICAM Milano 102: discovering the new layout

The countdown is on for the next edition of Micam, the world’s leading event for quality footwear and fashion content, which, with its September edition, continues the evolution of its spatial configuration, presenting a new layout designed to make the visitor experience even more fluid, intuitive and functional, whilst making the most of every exhibition area. A clearer and more straightforward layout, which will see the exhibition spaces in Hall 1 swapped with those in Hall 4.The dates for future editions have also been announced: 21–23 February 2027; 12–14 September 2027; 20–22 February 2028; 17–19 September 2028.

Discover the change taking shape watching the video:

MITA and Assopellettieri – Alliance: from Kenya to Italy to train the artisans of tomorrow

The first international strategic partnership project between Assopellettieri and MITA Academy, created to promote artisanal excellence and specialist training in the leather goods sector, has entered its final phase. Following training in Nairobi, which involved 38 young aspiring artisans, the three most deserving students arrived in Italy to undertake a three-week internship, running until the end of April, in the Tuscan leather goods district.

Conceived by Assopellettieri and managed from a technical and educational perspective by MITA, the programme took place between August and December 2025 at the Salesian Technical Institute ‘Don Bosco Boys Town’ in Nairobi, involving 38 participants in 13 training modules covering all stages of the leather goods development and production process: from design to cutting, from skiving to dyeing, right through to quality control. Fundamental to the project’s success was the contribution of Vivienne Westwood, who has been collaborating with the Ethical Fashion Initiative in Kenya since 2010 on the establishment and development of an ethical supply chain for the production of accessories, involving over 2,600 artisans.

As envisaged from the very launch of the initiative, the programme does not stop at on-site training, but extends to Tuscany, where the three most deserving students undertook a training placement at two companies affiliated with Assopellettieri, both characterised by a highly artisanal approach and a fully integrated production process: Tamerice and Sapaf. 

“With this initiative, we wish to reaffirm that training is the beating heart of the future of Italian leather goods,” says Claudia Sequi, President of Assopellettieri. “Passing on skills means ensuring continuity, but also innovation and inclusion. The experience in Kenya demonstrates how Italian know-how can engage with new contexts, enriching itself and generating concrete opportunities for sustainable development.”

 “The experience in Kenya represents an innovative and highly valuable model,” comments Riccardo Braccialini, Director and Past President of Assopellettieri. “We have transferred skills to highly motivated young people and are now ready for the next step. These internships are a true bridge between cultures and an investment in the future of leather goods as a driver of sustainable development.”

MinervaHub: the strength of an integrated supply chain serving the luxury sector

15 June 2023. The San Quirico S.p.A. holding company, owned by the Garrone family of Genoa, has completed the acquisition of 75% of MinervaHub S.p.A. for approximately €550 million. Those in the energy sector know the Garrones: they are the owners of ERG, the group that owns wind farms stretching from Crotone to Estonia, transforming wind into megawatts. Now, in addition to wind power, they own brass chains for luxury handbags, injection moulding machinery for technical soles, and a crocodile leather tannery in Pisa. The shift seems abrupt. In reality, not so much.

Long-established industrial families know that good investments are those in authentic quality found in skills that are difficult to replicate, built up over decades of successes, mistakes and adjustments. That is exactly what convinced San Quirico to back MinervaHub — not the appeal of luxury in the abstract, but the concrete nature of the specialisations the group was bringing together. MinervaHub was already something of a rarity back in 2023. What it has become by February 2026, visiting its stand at Lineapelle, is hard to categorise; it goes beyond the unusual.

The MinervaHub stand at Lineapelle in February 2026

 

AN ECOSYSTEM

Rho Fiera, February 2026. MinervaHub collective, Lineapelle edition 107. The stand does not resemble that of an industrial group. It resembles an open workshop, where every corner showcases a different technology. Someone is holding a sample of an upper and bending it as if it were leather. «This is compact polyurethane moulded by casting and, here’s the innovation, two-tone. We can produce very thin thicknesses, under a millimetre, whilst retaining flexibility. These results cannot be achieved with standard injection moulding.»

This is the Non-Metal Accessories Business Unit in action. The sample is passed from hand to hand as they explain that it is produced using the CTT technique by Interlinea2 — the only company in Italy to apply this process. The process is simple to describe, complicated to replicate: the material is poured into an open mould on a rotary machine, the excess is scraped off, the fabric is applied and it is pressed. Everything is automated except for loading the fabric. The result: incredible geometries (reminiscent of lace embroidery, for example), softness, two-tone effects, and thicknesses that the Chinese competition — which produces similar items using manual labour — cannot guarantee with the same consistency.

This is the first insight Lineapelle offers on the group: MinervaHub does not compete on craftsmanship. It competes on the organisation of craftsmanship.

 

21 COMPANIES, 5 BUSINESS UNITS, A COMPLETE SUPPLY CHAIN

Founded in 2022 following the merger between Ambria Holding — the platform built by Matteo Marzotto, former president of Valentino — and XPP Seven (Xenon Private Equity), the MinervaHub group now comprises 21 companies spread across Italy’s main manufacturing districts, with a couple of branches abroad, over 1,400 employees and revenues exceeding €227 million.

Its client base exceeds 1,500 companies, with a list that includes Dior, Gucci, Valentino, Tod’s and Dolce & Gabbana. Led by Chairman Marzotto and CEO Alessandro Corsi — former CFO of Salvatore Ferragamo — the group is organised into five Business Units.

 

The first is ORNAMENTS: embroidery, quilting and decorative appliqués. It includes Jato 1991, one of the world’s most prestigious hand-embroidery houses, with an archive of over 6,000 pieces and a 200-strong workshop in India that combines traditional craftsmanship with Italian creative know-how. Then there is Quake, in Rossano Veneto, which specialises in machine-programmed embroidery and perforation — the same principle as embroidery, but instead of thread it uses a needle, creating patterns on leather and fabric with a precision of design that even lasers struggle to match. Trapuntatura Belpunto, based in Treviso, specialises in roll-quilting and spot-quilting, using GRS (Global Recycled Standard)-certified materials, with 70% of production based in India. Finally (though there are other companies worth mentioning within this business unit), Goretti represents the cutting edge in applications and accessories for the leather goods, footwear and apparel sectors. The company stands out for its highly personalised approach, combining craftsmanship with advanced technology.

 

The second Business Unit is METAL ACCESSORIES. The highlight is MH Metal — born from the merger of Zeta Catene and Galvanica Formelli, both based in Arezzo and both founding members of the group — with a catalogue of over 2,000 types of brass and silver chains. Alongside this is Koverlux in Bergamo, the only company in the world capable of applying multiple finishes to a single metal piece. Then there is Oroplac, a historic electroplating firm in Scandicci with close ties to the brands of the Kering Group, and Elettrogalvanica Settimi in Pollenza (Macerata), with over forty years’ experience in precision treatments on small metal parts.

 

NON-METAL ACCESSORIES is the third, and perhaps the most technologically advanced. SP Plast Creating, in Fermo, boasts almost fifty machines for injection moulding, through-hole micro-injection, back-injection and digital printing. A leader in the processing of plastics and thermoplastic rubber. Gruppo Meccaniche Luciani, in Corridonia, started out as a moulding company and now integrates rapid 3D prototyping, additive manufacturing, EVA production and — through a partnership with DA.MI. — the production of DL FOAM, one of Europe’s first Super Critical Foams. Interlinea2, based in Altivole, Treviso, specialises in plastic moulding, overmoulding of thermoplastics onto leather and fabrics, micro-injection of labels, and thermoforming. Rounding off the list is New and Best, based in Barletta, which specialises in moulding various types of materials, such as fabric, leather and synthetics. It combines expertise, a creative approach and constant technological evolution to offer advanced processes in the sectors of leather goods, footwear (including safety footwear), clothing and high-end accessories.

 

Then there is PRECIOUS LEATHER, which includes the tannery Zuma Pelli Pregiate, a 6,500-square-metre facility in Pisa, specialising in CITES-certified exotic leathers: alligator, crocodile, python and lizard. It is linked to Audasit in Texas, which breeds alligators to ICFA certification and cruelty-free standards. A vertical supply chain from animal to bag, with full traceability. The kind of guarantee that Kering and LVMH have been seeking from their suppliers for years and rarely find in full.

INTERLINEA2
DEADEMA
MABEL
JATO 1991
LTM
NEW AND BEST
SP PLAST CREATING
SP PLAST CREATING
SP PLAST CREATING
TRAPUNTATURA BELPUNTO
TRAPUNTATURA BELPUNTO
ZETA CATENE


 

THE GROUP’S SAMPLING COLLECTION AND THE PARADOX OF SCALE

At Lineapelle, one of the most instructive corners of the area covered by MinervaHub seemed to us to be what the group informally calls the ‘sampling collection’: shoes and accessories created by combining the craftsmanship of six or seven different companies within the group. Soles by Luciani, uppers by Interlinea2, chains by MH Metal, embroidery by Jato 1991, appliqués by Goretti, heels with LTM pins — a company that produces metal inserts for women’s high heels and is currently the sole member of the LADY SHOES COMPONENTS business unit. These are not products ‘for sale’. They are demonstrations of industrial collaboration.

A buyer accustomed to coordinating six separate suppliers to achieve the same result looks at them with an attention that is not aesthetic wonder. It is calculation. A single point of contact for components spanning radically different manufacturing processes — from electroplating to expanded soles, from hand embroidery to injection-moulded plastic — means fewer emails, fewer parallel samples, and less risk of quality inconsistencies between successive deliveries.

Herein lies the paradox upon which MinervaHub has built its success: the bigger it gets, the more sense it makes for those who want to produce or buy small-scale and high-quality goods.

The global luxury sector is narrowing its supplier base. Brands are seeking partners who can guarantee traceability, volume and compliance all in one go. The small Italian SME — highly skilled in its specific field, often unique — struggles not for lack of expertise, but for lack of structure. MinervaHub addresses this problem precisely. It does so, however, without absorbing the acquired companies. The founders reinvest around 20% in the group, remain operational, and retain ownership of a stake. It is not a buyout and retirement. It is a buyout and co-investment. This explains the calibre of the people manning the stand: they do not have the demeanour of a multinational employee, but that of an entrepreneur who knows they can now do things they previously could not afford.

LTM
ARTE-LIER
DEADEMA
GORETTI
GRUPPO MECCANICHE LUCIANI


 

THE HONEST QUESTION

There is, however, one question that remains unanswered, and which deserves a response: is it really feasible to keep 21 entities with different corporate cultures, spread across eight Italian regions and two foreign countries, operating in five distinct technology sectors, together without losing along the way what made them unique?

The answer can only be complex. The theoretical model holds up. So does the governance. The figures hold up. But aggregation models that work on paper often get bogged down in operational details — in overlapping sampling priorities, in shared clients that create internal friction, in the temptation to standardise what should remain distinctive. It is not a theoretical risk. It is the occupational hazard of all industrial groups.

MinervaHub knows this. And it is precisely the stand at Lineapelle reminds that the ecosystem’s output is worth more than the sum of its parts. The impression, upon carefully visiting the stand, is that it works, and works very well. 

 

THE MILLIMETRE THAT MATTERS

Let’s return to the upper sample we were given at the start of the visit. Less than a millimetre thick. As soft as leather, produced in an automated process that cannot be replicated elsewhere. It is not the technology that makes the difference, in this case. It is the idea that someone had to build a system around that technology capable of bringing it to market in a reliable, scalable and traceable way. This is MinervaHub, in essence: not a conglomerate that aggregates by size, but a platform that aggregates by purpose. Luxury does not need bigger suppliers. It needs more attentive and consistent suppliers. The Garrones of Genoa — the ones from the wind — understood this right from the start.


THE GROUP’S SAMPLES
MinervaHub is a collaborative project centred on integration, experimentation and dialogue between areas of expertise. At Lineapelle in February 2026, it presented a narrative comprising new techniques, innovative processes and shared visions, capable of showcasing the group’s various business units and individual companies. This narrative unfolded around three main themes, conceived as areas of research and cross-pollination.

The first theme is dedicated to the world of sport, drawing inspiration from the geometries of basketball: bold lines, clean volumes and textured surfaces.

The second theme, on the other hand, opens up to the marine world and all things organic. The shapes become softer and more natural, drawing inspiration from mother-of-pearl, its irregularities and its reflections.

The third theme looks to the Italian 1930s, evoking the imagery of summer as depicted by Viviani, a Tuscan artist, and the geometries of a historical period that profoundly shaped Versilia and the tradition of Tuscan artisans.



ALL MINERVAHUB COMPANIES
Audasit Inc. (USA), Conceria Zuma Pelli Pregiate (Pisa), Deadema (Forlì-Cesena), Elettrogalvanica Settimi (Macerata), Goretti (Ancona), Gruppo Meccaniche Luciani (Macerata), Interlinea2 (Treviso), ITTTAI (Treviso), Jato 1991 (Bologna), Jato Garments (India), Koverlux (Bergamo), MA.GUI. (Arezzo), MH Metal (ex Galvanica Formelli e Zeta Catene (Arezzo), LTM (Forlì-Cesena), New and Best (Barletta), Oroplac (Firenze), Quake (Vicenza), Sagiwa (Treviso), Sp Plast Creating (Fermo), Teknomabel (Bergamo), Trapuntatura Belpunto (Treviso).


 

Watch the video showcasing the Group’s sample collection presented by MinervaHub at Lineapelle:

From TFL the Autumn/Winter 2027–28 colours

TFL has released its new catalogue for Autumn Winter 2027-28, presenting the latest colour trends for leather garments, footwear, accessories and for the upholstery industry.

The trends are divided into “Wearing” and “Living”.
“Wearing” comprises inspirations and colour trends for garments, footwear and accessories.
The “Living” section features all colours that will decorate the season’s interior designs.

In the “Wearing” section, nubuck and reptile prints are infused with vibrant, deep, and translucent hues—ranging from warm burgundy and wine tones to elegant blues, precious emerald greens, and futuristic purples.

In the “Living” section, nappa and thick micro-printed leathers embrace saturated colour effects, expressed through enveloping caramel shades, refined neutrals like taupe, and more exotic notes inspired by earth and spice tones.

TFL Colour Trends Autumn Winter 2027-28 are an invitation to explore tactile and visual emotions through colour, combining innovation, comfort and style.

For more details, please visit www.tfl.com.

Vibram and Gheller join forces for rock face safety

Vibram has formed a new strategic partnership in the Work&Safety sector. The world leader in rubber soles has announced the launch of a collaboration with Gheller, a Veneto-based company specializing in the safety reinforcement of rock faces and slopes, operating throughout Italy.

Annalaura Gatto and Davide Gheller

“Our core business is the stabilization of rock faces,” explains Davide Gheller, son of founder Attilio—a caving and mountaineering enthusiast who established the company over thirty years ago. “Today we have a team of over 100 rock climbers, most of whom come from the sports and outdoor sectors, including mountain guides and geologists, who work daily suspended on the rock face. These are extremely demanding environments, where protective equipment—starting with footwear—is literally vital to ensuring safety.”
Among the projects carried out over the years by the Gheller experts are iconic sites such as the Via dell’Amore in the Cinque Terre, certain areas of the Dolomites, and Capri island. The more “standard” projects involve securing highways, tunnels, and rocky slopes of all kinds.
For Vibram, seeking partners in the safety footwear industry has always been a strategic priority, yielding proven results. “For us, it is essential to involve users in the development process, especially in a sector that is so challenging from both a technical and regulatory standpoint,” emphasizes Annalaura Gatto, the company’s marketing manager. From the very first meetings between the Gheller climbers and the Vibram designers, a strong rapport emerged, which has already generated important technical input and new ideas, always with the goal of combining safety and comfort.”
The ultimate goal of the collaboration is to develop custom soles for climbers engaged in this type of activity. At the same time, efforts are underway to involve several footwear brands to bring the finished product to market.

An intervention by Gheller for Autostrade per l’Italia in Rioveggio, Emilia-Romagna
The Gheller rock climbers’ visit to the Vibram workshop
The construction site of the Via dell’Amore in Riomaggiore, Cinque Terre