The past, the present and the future of La Sportiva
Nestled among the towering peaks of the Italian Dolomites lies the birthplace of a company that has become synonymous with performance and passion in the outdoor world. La Sportiva embodies the spirit of exploration and craftmanship, a legacy carefully cultivated by the Delladio family who founded the company nearly a century ago.
Text: David Brink Photos: Matteo Bianchessi
Published
2024-04-27
La Sportiva has since the beginning famously supplied footwear to nearly any mountain activity you can think of and have been the preferred choice of local forest workers, mountain performance athletes and climbing expeditioners all the way up to the peak of Mount Everest.
In recent years the interest in the outdoor world has exploded. People are spending much more time in various outdoor activities, the industry is booming and the demand for technical product to support the lifestyle has skyrocketed. Experiencing this shift in our relationship with nature and reacting to the challenges that naturally follow must be interesting for a company that surely have faced many great obstacles in the past hundred years since the founding of the company in 1928 by Narciso Delladio.
We had the opportunity to visit in La Sportiva's factory in Ziano di Fiemme, a charming little mountain village, far away from the hustling and bustling of the big, industrial cities of the North Italian Po-plains. Almost hidden from the outside world, located in a beautiful nature setting in green valleys surrounded by tall mountains, you can’t help but wonder how it is possible to run a global, market leading company in such wonderfully disconnected a place. While touring the impressive establishment we had the chance to explore this fascination and ask Francesco Delladio a few questions about the past, present and future of La Sportiva.
Francesco Delladio in the resoling laboratory.
Francesco Delladio represents the fourth generation of the Delladio Family in La Sportiva. He grew up as a child breathing the atmosphere of the company, growing up side by side with the people who worked in La Sportiva and who, for the most part, he still works together with today.
“For me La Sportiva means passion, it means family, and above all it means home.”
For the last three years he’s been working as Product Manager for the Climbing, Mountaineering and Approach Footwear categories; the core businesses of the brand and above all the product categories with most historicity and heritage. And for a company that is still 100 percent family-run: heritage and passion are pillars that daily support and guide him and his colleagues.
The outdoor industry is constantly evolving. How do you see this evolution, and what do you do to adapt to the changes?
– We were born and raised in the mountains, and so we perfectly know the well-being that a simple walk in the woods or a climb on a crag can bring. The speed and complexity of the current world have led many people to discover the outdoor environment which is so strikingly beautiful and relaxing.
We have witnessed a boom in the outdoor market in the last 10 years. Areas like Mountain Hiking and Mountain Running have become almost mainstream sports. Climbing has shifted from being a niche sport practiced by very few to a trendy sport, and it is expanding day by day within big cities thanks to climbing gyms. Even ski mountaineering has experienced a revival, attracting thousands of new users, says Francesco.
“The most important thing for a company that holds the mountains in its heart as well as in its logo is to convey to its users respect for the environment in which the sports we love and they love can be practiced.”
– It's wonderful to see more and more people becoming passionate about what we love, but it's crucial to make them understand that the mountains, forests, and climbing walls must be respected and cared for to be enjoyed by those who come after us. I believe this is a fundamental role for all companies in the outdoor sector, and especially for those recognized as reference points by end users.
What is the challenge you’re personally most motivated to take on and try solving?
– The objective is quite simple to explain, La Sportiva wants to succeed in evolving and adapting to the world market and needs, remaining a point of reference for all mountain sports enthusiasts spread around the planet, developing products that allow our fans to experience the mountains safely and with passion. All this, however, must be done while keeping our values intact, the values of a family business, rooted and extremely tied to the territory in which it was born and spurred on by the desire to search for unexplored paths, innovate and succeed in surprising.
“La Sportiva wants to remain a point of reference for all mountain sports enthusiasts spread around the planet.”
– Combining these two goals is an exciting challenge but not an easy one. We must face the future while remembering the path that the company and its employees have already taken over the past 95 years.
As I mentioned earlier, my sister and I have naturally inherited many traits and values from previous generations. And like us, our colleagues have also been inspired by the company's history and the stories about our products and about the athletes who have made history in mountaineering and climbing with our products. I believe that a sort of magical formula has been created within La Sportiva, a recipe through which the DNA that has shaped our company over the past 95 years is now breathed and interpreted by those who must develop products for the future.
Sustainability is becoming an increasingly important topic in our industry. How does La Sportiva approach sustainability in their products and operations?
– The sustainability path of La Sportiva is composed of different pillars: product, value chain, environment, social, and governance. Repair and regeneration of products are today one of the strongest keys to achieving more sustainable products with longer lifecycles. According to a Life Cycle Assessment-analysis we conducted, resoling a climbing shoe allows us to avoid roughly 90% of CO2 emissions compared to producing a new one.
Resoling has always been part of La Sportiva's DNA.
– Just think that when La Sportiva was founded in 1928, my great-grandfather Narciso mainly used to resole and repair boots for lumberjacks and mountain workers in the Fiemme and Fassa Valley. With the growth of climbing, the demand for resoling has increased exponentially. In order to be able to offer a more prompt and timely service therefore, we started a training and education program offered to the best cobblers in Europe.
Francesco adds:
– Starting from October 2023, our resole and repair workshop has moved to a new building, next to our factory in Ziano, in order to be able to further increase the level of service offered. This is a real workshop where our customers' shoes are resoled by our best artisans, using only: raw materials, lasts and machinery identical to those used during their production.
How does it feel to carry forward a company with such a heavy legacy?
– There is definitely a strong feeling of responsibility. Responsibility to my colleagues, to the community of Val di Fiemme (the valley where La Sportiva is still based today and where we produce our climbing shoes and mountaineering boots), and responsibility to the generations that preceded mine.
These 3 generations have managed, with hard work and passion, to create something unique and almost magical.
– My sister and I are lucky enough to have inherited, in a completely spontaneous and natural way, the values that founded and made the company grow. There are many challenges to continue to keep these values strong and alive, but this fortunately, is still experienced as a beautiful motivation.
A very good range of menswear - good information re: sizing and very good service.
Rita F
2024-11-14
Buyer
2024-10-30
Just perfect. Great website and service.
Paweł G
2024-11-13
Buyer
2024-10-30
Qualità del servizio molto buona e spedizione rapida. Packaging molto accurato. Complessivamente una esperienza molto positiva.
Marco M
2024-11-12
Buyer
2024-10-28
Facile à utiliser, à comprendre. Très bon site en résumé.
Andre B
2024-11-12
Buyer
2024-10-25
Product was high quality.
Thomas K
2024-11-11
Buyer
2024-10-24
C’est le 2eme caban que je commande Toujours aussi satisfaisant
Gilda R
2024-11-11
Buyer
2024-10-27
Prodotto eccellente
fiorella p
2024-11-11
Buyer
2024-10-27
Este perfect ! Mulțumesc mult !
Angela P
2024-11-11
Buyer
2024-10-27
I am very satisfied with my purchase and overall experience
Wiktor W
2024-11-11
Buyer
2024-10-25
Ottimo servizio, puntuale e prodotto perfetto
Mirco B
2024-11-11
Buyer
2024-10-26
Tutto OK. siete i migliori .
Massimo C
2024-11-11
Buyer
2024-10-25
Qualità e servizio eccellenti
Lorella T
2024-11-07
Buyer
2024-10-24
Achat très fluide . Paiement en 4 x appréciable. Envoie très rapide . Parfait 👍
isabel l
2024-11-07
Buyer
2024-10-23
Very pleased with garment and speed of delivery.
Dominic F
2024-11-05
Buyer
2024-10-19
Service is impacable. Products perfect. I am very happy with my Careofcarl experiace! Good to everyone,Rene
René M
2024-11-04
Buyer
2024-10-19
Fast shipping across Europe !
Raphaël L
2024-11-04
Buyer
2024-10-20
Top quality
Jérémy A
2024-11-04
Buyer
2024-10-20
All was perfect Slow delivery time
Jose V
2024-11-04
Buyer
2024-10-19
A candle arrived broken and they sent me a new one via dhl express. Perfect service!
CRISTIANO N
2024-11-04
Buyer
2024-10-19
Grate product (Polo Ralph Lauren shoes). Perfect transaction with Care of Carl. Congratulations!!!
José I
2024-11-04
Buyer
2024-10-20
Custome service 🔝! Very fast, all was perfect!
Leonardo N
2024-10-31
Buyer
2024-10-17
I order few items already from this shop and im very happy about the service, delivery time etc
Alberto B
2024-10-31
Buyer
2024-10-15
Very polite and efficient
Danièle W
2024-10-31
Buyer
2024-10-16
I received a very nice Kamakura oxford shirt. The shipment was immediate. The packaging is beautiful. Kudos to the company for importing such quality clothes.
Michalis M
2024-10-30
Buyer
2024-10-16
It was my first experience and was good.
PEDRO J
2024-10-30
Buyer
2024-10-14
Excellent store.
Arnaud M
2024-10-29
Buyer
2024-09-29
Excellent service. Highly recommended.
Mihai P
2024-10-28
Buyer
2024-10-13
Pleinement satisfait.....
Alexis H
2024-10-28
Buyer
2024-10-10
Fast service and great communication can’t wish for anything more.
Rolf W
2024-10-28
Buyer
2024-10-11
Parfait! Envoi très rapide
Dominique Q
2024-10-26
Buyer
2024-10-09
Tailor your shopping experience!
Care of Carl uses cookies and similar technologies to keep our site working securely and reliably, to measure website performance, and offer a tailored.. Read moreadvertising and shopping experience. To do this, we collect data pertaining to our users, their shopping patterns, and devices. By selecting ‘Accept all’, you agree to the collection of such data and the sharing of this data with third parties such as our marketing partners. This may involve your data being processed in the USA. If you decline, only essential cookies will be used, meaning we will be unable to offer a tailored experience. Select ‘Manage Preferences’ for more detailed information and to manage which kinds of cookies you allow. You may change your preferences at any time. Learn more about our use of cookies in our Privacy Policy.
MANAGE PREFERENCES
ACCEPT ALL
The below explains the different categories of cookies used and allows you to adjust your preferences. Learn more about our use of cookies here and in our Privacy Policy.
ACCEPT ALL
Certain cookies are essential to the basic functionality of our website. Cookies are, for example, necessary for adding an item to your basket.
We use a number of different marketing-related cookies to advertise our site and our products. The services used are explained in our cookie policy.
These cookies allow use to analyse user behaviour in order to develop and improve the shopping experience, for example with the help of Google Analytics.
This category is used to enhance the content and functionality of our website, including functions such as Imbox, our chat and customer care platform.
We use cookies to tailor certain parts of the website to individual users. This includes functions such as ‘My Reference Items’.
SAVE AND CLOSE
Choose your delivery country
Sverige
Sverige
Danmark
Norge
Suomi
Deutschland
Österreich
EU
Nederland
France
Schweiz
España
Italia
United Kingdom
{
"SE": {
"content": "Välkommen till vår svenska butik. ",
"usp_list": [
"Fri frakt över 399 kr",
"Fri retur",
"1-3 dagars leverans"
],
"image": "https://www.careofcarl.com/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_SV.png",
"cta": "Välj ditt leveransland",
"button_text": "Byt land"
},
"IE": {
"content": "Welcome to our English store! Here's some specific information for international customers.",
"usp_list": [
"Free Delivery From €30",
"Free returns",
"No customs duties"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_EU.png",
"cta": "Choose your delivery country",
"button_text": "Change country"
},
"DK": {
"content": "Velkommen til vores danske butik! Her er nogle specifikke oplysninger for Danmark.",
"usp_list": [
"Fri fragt over 299;-",
"Fri retur",
"1-3 dages levering"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_DK.png",
"cta": "Vælg dit leveringsland",
"button_text": "Skift land"
},
"FI": {
"content": "Tervetuloa suomalaiseen kauppaamme! Tässä on tiettyjä tietoja Suomelle.",
"usp_list": [
"Ilmainen toimitus yli 30€ tilauksille",
"Maksuton palautus",
"Toimitusaika 2-5 pv"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_FI.png",
"cta": "Valitse toimitusmaasi",
"button_text": "Vaihda maata"
},
"NL": {
"content": "Welkom in onze Nederlandse winkel! Hier is wat specifieke informatie voor Nederland.",
"usp_list": [
"Gratis bezorging vanaf €30",
"Gratis retour",
"Geen inklaringskosten"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_NL.png",
"cta": "Kies uw bezorgland",
"button_text": "Verander van land"
},
"DE": {
"content": "Willkommen in unserem deutschen Shop! Hier sind einige spezifische Informationen für Deutschland.",
"usp_list": [
"Standardversand frei ab 30 Euro Bestellwert",
"Kostenlose Rücksendung",
"Keine Zollgebühren"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_DE.png",
"cta": "Wählen Sie Ihr Lieferland",
"button_text": "Land ändern"
},
"AT": {
"content": "Willkommen in unserem österreichischen Shop! Hier sind einige spezifische Informationen für Österreich.",
"usp_list": [
"Standardversand frei ab 30 Euro Bestellwert",
"Kostenlose Rücksendung",
"Keine Zollgebühren"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_AT.png",
"cta": "Wählen Sie Ihr Lieferland",
"button_text": "Land ändern"
},
"ES": {
"content": "¡Bienvenido a nuestra tienda española! Aquí tienes información específica para España.",
"usp_list": [
"Envío gratuito a partir de 30 €",
"Devoluciones gratuitas",
"Sin derechos de aduana"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_EU.png",
"cta": "Elija su país de entrega",
"button_text": "Cambiar país"
},
"FR": {
"content": "Bienvenue dans notre boutique française! Voici des informations spécifiques pour la France.",
"usp_list": [
"Livraison gratuite à partir de 30 €",
"Retours gratuits",
"Pas de frais de douane"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_EU.png",
"cta": "Choisissez votre pays de livraison",
"button_text": "Changer de pays"
},
"IT": {
"content": "Benvenuti nel nostro negozio italiano! Ecco alcune informazioni specifiche per l'Italia.",
"usp_list": [
"Spedizione gratuita oltre 30 €",
"Reso gratuito",
"Nessun dazio doganale"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_EU.png",
"cta": "Scegli il tuo paese di consegna",
"button_text": "Cambia paese"
},
"NO": {
"content": "Velkommen til vår norske butikk! Her er litt spesifikk informasjon for Norge.",
"usp_list": [
"Fri frakt over 399,-",
"Fri retur",
"1-4 dagers levering"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_NO.png",
"cta": "Velg ditt leveringsland",
"button_text": "Bytt land"
},
"GB": {
"content": "Welcome to our UK store! Here is some specific information for the United Kingdom.",
"usp_list": [
"Free shipping over £300",
"Free returns",
"1-2 days delivery"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_EU.png",
"cta": "Choose your delivery country",
"button_text": "Change country"
},
"CH": {
"content": "Willkommen in unserem Schweizer Shop! Hier sind einige spezifische Informationen für die Schweiz.",
"usp_list": [
"Gratis-Express-Versand ab 300 CHF",
"Kostenlose Rücksendung",
"Keine Zollgebühren"
],
"image": "/dokument/bibliotek/Image/Bilder/Hemsida/Footer/country_select_DE.png",
"cta": "Wählen Sie Ihr Lieferland",
"button_text": "Land ändern"
}
}