Vibram Making A Focus On Outsoles A Growth Business

BusinessSportsMoneyVibram Making A Focus On Outsoles A Growth BusinessByTim Newcomb,Contributor.Forbes contributors publish independent expert analyses and insights. Tim Newcomb covers tennis gear/business, stadiums and shoe tech.Follow AuthorAug 21, 2026, 09:00am EDT--:-- / --:--This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.This voice experience is generated by AI. Learn more.SummaryVibram, the Italian rubber outsole maker, has tripled its business since 2018 and increased retail exposure sixfold, driven by a shift where companies now seek its problem-solving expertise. Major partnerships with brands like Nike, Brooks, and Arc'teryx have fueled this growth, particularly in the US and China. Show More Vibram outsoles have enjoyed growth in the outdoor space thanks to a range of new companies partnering with the Italian maker.VibramCompanies no longer ask Vibram simply for outsoles, instead requesting problem solving. That’s let the privately held Italian rubber outsole maker triple its business since 2018 while new partnerships with the likes of Nike, Brooks, Arc’teryx and Altra allowed Vibram to grow its retail exposure nearly sixfold. Performance footwear brands, especially the giants, once kept all their components in house. That’s no longer the case. “We don’t have the resources for the marketing, but we have the product,” Fabrizio Gamberini, global chief brand and consumer officer for Vibram, tells me. “With the product we’ve created a relationship with the consumer, so the consumer is asking companies for Vibram. If they want to provide a value-add, they need to have Vibram.” The leader in rubber outsole technology, Vibram has carved more than a niche, becoming the industry standard, whether for work or safety, or now outdoor performance. “Everything starts with the product,” Gamberini says. “What we are able to do is really ignite the greatness of a product.” Norda has embrace Vibram's grippiest running outsole for its popular wave of shoes....