GRONELL – the Finest Italian Hand-Made Boots

Nello Grossule in 1935 – on the left.

In 1937, GRONELL founder NELLO GROSSULE began learning the age-old trade of the shoemaker and by crafting his first pair of mountaineering boots – at the beginning for himself but eventually for many of the inhabitants of his village – he furthered this passion. The appreciation for the care and enthusiasm for the products he created convinced him that quality was the key to his success.

In the early 1950s he poured his life’s earnings into the investment of equipment and employed a handful of established craftsmen and began manufacturing in his small work shop. With increasing experience, Nello expanded innovative working techniques and he devoted himself to the research of improving materials, especially the finest quality leathers that he personally selects – even to this day!  As the years passed, his boots became recognized all over Italy because of their extraordinary strength and comfort and his commitment to continue producing boots by hand became legendary.  He hired additional skilled craftsmen and created his trademark “GRONELL”.

Today the business remains in the Grossule family and is managed by Nello’s sons Fabio and Mario.  As part of the family tradition and their commitment to exceptional quality, they have been able to match practical experience with scientific research as their father did. The trademark “GRONELL” has become a lasting symbol of quality, as testified by the certification UNI EN ISO 9002 that was obtained in December 1999.  And the commitment to make boots by hand continues to the current day!

VIBRAM is the world leader in high performance rubber soles, targeted at the outdoor, work, recreation, fashion, repair and orthopedic markets. VIBRAM soles, created with a desire to increase safety and protection levels, are the result of a constant commitment to research and development.  GRONELL has been delighted to partner with this world-class company over very many years and continues to design and develop new footwear ranges that incorporate these outstanding products.

GRONELL is also delighted to confirm it has partnered with world-class company Sympatex Technologies GmbH of Germany for the supply of their best-in-class waterproof & breathable footwear membranes.  GRONELL models now incorporate the exclusive SympaTex Moisture-Tech membrane to offer the highest standards of waterproof protection and optimally breathable comfort available in the market today.

GRONELL continues to hold an essential place, nationally and internationally, in the manufacture of premium technical mountaineering shoes. This ancient craft has been handed down wisely to synchronize compatibly with the latest design technology, supported by innovative styles and sophisticated materials, in an endless evolution. The respect for the culture of the past remains unchanged, while technical research is continuously improving.

Para from About Us:

–           GRONELL of Italy is a renowned footwear brand that has been a leading supplier to the European market since 1937.  Cooltraxx now offers the full range of technically advanced premium footwear to the UK & Ireland markets.  The Gronell range is hand-made in Italy and represents probably the best quality available anywhere today.