The history of Gramicci, an Italian-named brand coming from Japan, is full of peculiar detours and turns.
In the 1970s, a new, countercultural, free-form, minimalist style of climbing that rejected bulky equipment emerged in Yosemite National Park in California, where Gramicci was born in 1982. Since its creation, Gramicci has upheld the free spirit of its forebears, but it has also changed in an unexpected way, travelling through skateparks, Asia, and urban settings. All of this without sacrificing his personality.
Graham & Gramicci
The brand’s founder, Mike Graham, was an avid climber of Yosemite who pretended to be Italian in order to give his accomplishments an air of exoticism. Graham became Gramicci, the brand name he chose, in an effort to transform his legend into something more Mediterranean.
Gramicci and kung-fu
Gramicci’s origins lie in climbing…and kung-fu. The new style of climbing suggested the need for new, more flexible clothing, and Mike Graham discovered in kung-fu the exact type of trousers he was looking for: a diamond-shaped crotch piece that allowed for greater mobility. A feature that is still available in models like Gadget Shorts, Jam Pants and G-Pants.
Gramicci, nylon belt
Gramicci’s other major innovation stemmed from a product closer to home: backpacks. His pants were fastened with a nylon belt inspired by climbing backpacks. A simple way to free up a hand.
Gramicci-streetwear
Gramicci was created with the goal of increasing the range of mobility and durability of their garments; however, they quickly realised that this was not a climbing-specific requirement. Skateboarders first encountered Gramicci when they were at the forefront of streetwear trends. Gramicci discovered a second urban life that seemed far from its roots but fit perfectly with its history.
Gramicci, Japan
Born in California and with an Italian name, Gramicci actually comes from Japan. At a time when the brands created in the eighties were losing their impact, Gramicci revived in Japan thanks to the passion for the American product and in recent years has grown thanks to collaborations with brands like Nanga, And Wander, Snow Peak or Sophnet.
At FOOTDISTRICT you can find his iconic long pants and shorts, t-shirts, jackets and accessories, as well as some of his most sought after collaborations.