The deaths of six of Vitale Bramani’s mountaineering friends in the Italian Alps on September 15, 1935 was partly blamed on “inadequate footwear”. The tragedy drove Bramani to develop a new climbing sole.
Two years later, he patented his invention and launched the first rubber lug soles on the market with a new tread design called the “Carrarmato” (i.e. “tank tread”), with the financial backing of Leopoldo Pirelli of Pirelli Tyres.
They were supplied to the Monte Cervino Battalion in Russia
1938 “La Scarpa Vibram”: first promotional brochure
Source: https://eu.vibram.com/en/chronicles_archives_adv_over_years.html