It all began in the 1970s in California, when a
generation of avid climbers, known as the Stonemasters, established a foothold in
Yosemite National Park and introduced a new way of climbing that emphasized speed and style,
that emphasized speed and style. These new methods
required a new uniform, and while painter's pants and army fatigues worked to a
some degree worked, flexibility was needed. Mike Graham, a
Stonemaster with a keen eye for design, set out to design the first
true climbing pants. A diamond-shaped gusset, as known from
kung fu pants, was incorporated into the crotch to provide full 180-degree
180-degree flexibility, while durable canvas provides ruggedness when the going gets tough.
Ruggedness when the going gets tough. To keep the shorts secure,
a nylon webbing belt has been integrated into the waist. In the style of the
backpack straps, the shorts can be adjusted with one hand, while the elastic waistband
elastic waistband ensures a high level of comfort. 1982 saw the birth of Gramicci - named after a nickname Graham had given himself when some of the Stonemasters attempted the first "all-Italian" climb of Yosemite's infamous Half Dome (even though none of them were actually Italian). After the shorts came the pants - and these seemingly indestructible pants, the so-called G-pants, spread quickly. Their popularity was not limited to climbers, and by the mid-1980s a small group of surfers and skaters were also reaching for the durable pants with the small hand-drawn "RunningMan" logo. Gramicci also found favor on the streets of Tokyo - and when the time came for Gramicci to find a new home, Japan was the perfect place. Since then, Gramicci has continued to innovate and develop new ideas without abandoning its original ethos.
