Company
“I was born here in the heart of Lessinia and since I was a small child, I have loved the dawns and sunsets; the beauty and the secrets of the neighbouring mountains. Look, I am the one on the left in the old picture. Even as a young boy I began the craft that had been my father’s, learning the artisan rules and the secrets of the materials. It was my passion to create and the first mountain shoes I crafted, I tested myself, throughout the woods and paths of my beloved mountains”.
Nello Grossule remembers with these
words. In 1937, he 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 the 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 a few select craftsmen
and began manufacturing in his small
work shop. With increasing experience,
Nello elaborated innovative
working techniques and he devoted
himself to the research of improving
materials, especially the leather that
he personally selects, even today.
As the years passed, his boots became
recognized all over Italy because of
their extraordinary strength and
comfort. He hired additional skilled
craftsmen and created his trademark
“Gronell”.
At the present time the trade is
carried out by Nello’s sons Fabio and
Mario Grossule, in these years they
have been able to match practice
experience with scientific research as
their father did. Today the trademark
“GRONELL” is a lasting symbol of
quality, testified by the certification
UNI EN ISO 9002 that was obtained
in December 1999. “GRONELL”
today holds an essential place,
nationally and internationally, in the
manufacture of technical mountaineering
shoes. This ancient craft has been
handed down wisely to synchronize
with highly modern 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
rising.