"
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.