Dolomite

The traditional brand Dolomite, founded in 1897, has earned its excellent reputation with innovative expedition boots and high-quality full leather ski boots. Today, the Italian brand produces sustainable clothing and shoes for outdoor adventurers.

More about Dolomite

Why is Dolomite a WIR DENKEN UM brand?

With its Re-Source program, Dolomite proves that the Italian brand has begun the transformation to more sustainable and responsible practices. Dolomite reports transparently on its website which measures are being taken to protect people and the environment.

As a WIR DENKEN UM brand, Dolomite is characterized above all by the following points:

- The company is committed to responsibility throughout the supply chain and follows responsible purchasing practices.

- The company pursues environmentally friendly, resource-saving production in its own factories or within the EU.

- Dolomite is part of the Responsible Sporting Goods Initiative (RSI) with a strict code of conduct.

For adventurers and nature lovers

The traditional brand from Italy has always been characterized by a pioneering spirit. Formative ascents in alpine history were made with Dolomite shoes – even today the brand is defined by forward-thinking: with the Dolomite Re-Source program the brand shows corporate responsibility towards people and the environment.

The program rests on three pillars: People, Products and Planet. Dolomite demonstrates its responsibility towards people through its membership in the Responsible Sporting Goods Initiative (RSI).

The RSI uses a uniform code of conduct that defines social and ecological parameters. These include the prohibition of child and forced labor, discrimination, and abuse and harassment. It also sets out freedom of association and the right to collective bargaining, fair wages and working hours, and ensuring health and safety.

In the product area, the brand relies on the use of recycled materials, the use of renewable raw materials such as coconut and natural cork, the use of certified raw materials such as leather from the Leather Working Group and the exclusion of PFCs in water-repellent coatings (DWRs).

As part of the SCOTT Sports Group, the Italian brand is also a member of the EOG (European Outdoor Group) and has signed their sustainability charter. This sets a common agenda for participating companies. The EOG advises companies on their way to becoming more sustainable and responsible.

INNOVATION ON THE MOUNTAIN

It all started in 1897 with a passion for shoes, but not just any shoes! But for a good shoe that carries people through life. In Treviso, Italy, Giuseppe Garbuio, only 17 years old, opened the Fabbrica Scarpe Montello, where he produced robust work shoes. Soon innovation followed innovation: Dolomite produced the first full leather ski boots, in 1939 the first perfectly fitting boots for solid bindings and in 1969 the first plastic ski boots. Well-known sportsmen such as Pierino Gros and Peter Groß rode towards their victories on these boots. The secret of their success? Dolomite.

AT THE FOREFRONT OF EXPEDITIONS

Dolomite has accompanied some of the greatest adventurers of our time and the milestones in the history of expeditions have also become milestones of Dolomite. Their highly functional products were the most advanced products available on the market in the 50's and perfectly suited for extreme conditions. To climb the famous K2, the second highest mountain on earth in the Karakorum Mountains, an Italian mountaineering team had handmade fur boots from Dolomite in their luggage. After a dangerous ascent over the south-east ridge (Abruzzo spur), the big day had come on July 31, 1954: Lacedelli and Compagnoni were the first people to reach the summit of K2 - the "mountain of mountains"!

Thanks to their extravagant look, the Fell boots soon conquered the fashion Olympus and, with their vintage expedition look, were a coveted luxury fashion item for many years. After this successful expedition, Dolomite also attracted the attention of others as a supplier. Perfectly insulating down jackets soon protected a Swiss expedition in 1960 when they climbed Dhaulagiri in the Himalayas, as well as an expedition to Mount Everest led by the American Norman Dyrenfurth.

In 1966 it got really cold: the Club Alpino Italiano of Carate Brianza and Gruppo Ragni of Lecco organised an expedition to Greenland up to the 71st latitude. Down jackets with fur from Dolomite warmed the men there at temperatures as low as minus 40 degrees. From Greenland to Patagonia: The Argentinean mountain Fitz Roy, at 3405 metres, is certainly not the highest, but one of the most dangerous mountains in the world. Unstable weather conditions, strong winds and routes from the sixth degree of difficulty make reliable equipment indispensable. This is why the expedition participants decided to go for Dolomite in 1976.

DEVELOPMENT TO A SPORTS FASHION BRAND

In the 80's Dolomite concentrated more and more on the fashion sector and presented for the first time in Italy a complete and very successful, modern outdoor and sportswear collection. The down jackets quickly became a cult. Today, in addition to the outdoor products, Dolomite has its own lifestyle line, whose styles are fashionably inspired and designed for the urban lifestyle. The adventure spirit of the expeditions from the brand's beginnings has been revived and is reflected in the products from the Fall/Winter 2019 collection onwards. Some are named after the mountains or mountain ranges, such as "Fitz Roy Jacket" or "Karakorum Jacket". Lovingly designed patches and other details tell the adventure stories and pick up the destination of the expedition or the nationality of the adventurers.

In 2015, the Swiss sportswear manufacturer Scott Sports with US roots took over the brand as owner. The headquarters, however, remained in Italy. Dolomite is the success story of a brand that builds on a unique heritage and has had a decisive influence on both sport and fashion with new impulses. Dolomite was and is a desirable brand with Italian flair.