Recreating the mythical boot. The one that, on 31 July 1954, for the first time in history, reached the summit of K2. This will not just be an exercise in style for the students of the Politecnico Calzaturiero del Brenta. In other words, the aim of the 70 Years of K2 project is to make them learn the techniques of the past, not only so that they are not forgotten, but above all to rediscover their effectiveness and validity.
A mythical boot
All the members of the expedition that led the mythical boot and Lino Lacedelli to the conquest of K2 in 1954 wore boots produced by Calzaturificio Giuseppe Garbuio of Montebelluna (Treviso) under the brand La Dolomite. The Veneto-based company used leather from Conceria Pietro Presot in Porcia (Pordenone) and rubber soles from Vibram. The students of the Handmade Footwear course at the Footwear Polytechnic of Vigonza (Padua) are called upon to reproduce them, using the same technique. The 70 Years of K2 project will see the reproduction of three types of boots to be used, then, to make the approach march, take the climbers up to an altitude of 7,000 metres and, finally, complete the rush to the summit.
70 Years of K2
The project is conceived and promoted by Politecnico Calzaturiero, together with Calzaturificio Armond in Maser (Treviso), which will provide the modelling and product development department. Conceria Pietro Presot and Vibram are also participating in the project. There is also the collaboration of the Sportsystem Foundation and the Montebelluna Shoe Museum, which have made it possible to study some original pieces (photo left).
To not forget
“The project helps us to rediscover, learn and disseminate the manufacturing techniques of the past”, explains the technical director of Politecnico Calzaturiero, Alice Marcato. “Thanks to this initiative, we not only keep the historical memory of ancient craft practices alive. We also offer our students a unique opportunity to confront themselves with manufacturing methods that would otherwise be in danger of being forgotten”.
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