Gramicci is an outdoor clothing brand founded in 1982 by Mike Graham — a Stonemaster rock climber based in Yosemite, California — in a garage in Ventura. The brand takes its name from Graham’s own nickname among the Stonemasters, a climbing crew who gave themselves Italian-sounding monikers during what they called their “all-Italian” first ascent of Yosemite’s Half-Dome (none of them were actually Italian). Now based in Japan and owned by Itochu, Gramicci is an American outdoor brand with an Italian name, designed in Tokyo, with a global following that spans serious climbers, Japanese streetwear culture, and the contemporary gorpcore movement.
Key Facts
- Founded: 1982
- Founder: Mike Graham (Stonemaster rock climber, Yosemite)
- Current Base: Japan (owned by Itochu; designed in Tokyo)
- Industry: Outdoor Clothing, Gorpcore, Contemporary Sportswear
History
In the early 1970s, the Stonemasters were pioneering free climbing at Yosemite — speed and style over aid climbing. Their problem: no clothing existed that could handle the range of movement required. Existing options included army surplus, painter pants, and the occasional flannel shirt. Graham began making his own shorts in the 1970s, incorporating two innovations from other clothing traditions: a diamond-shaped gusset crotch borrowed from kung-fu trousers (allowing 180-degree leg opening) and a one-handed-adjustable nylon webbing belt borrowed from backpack straps. By 1982 he had formalised these into a company — Gramicci — named after his own climbing nickname.
The G-Pant (trousers version of the original short design) became essential for climbers and quickly spread beyond the climbing community: surfers and skaters adopted the pants in the mid-1980s for the same reasons climbers loved them — toughness and freedom of movement. They reached Japan in the early 1990s, appearing on the streets of Shinjuku and stocked by Beams. Japanese enthusiasm for the brand eventually led to Gramicci finding its natural home in Japan, where Itochu now holds the worldwide master license. Collaborations with Nonnative, White Mountaineering, Stüssy, mastermind Japan, and Nanga have kept the brand at the intersection of outdoor utility and Japanese streetwear culture.
Core Products
Gramicci’s G-Pant and G-Short remain the heart of the range: organic cotton twill, gusseted crotch, and the signature webbing belt. The NN-Pants (a slimmer, more street-ready interpretation) and a growing technical fabric range complement the core. The running man logo — drawn by hand by Graham — remains the brand’s visual signature. Stocked by Beams, Hinoya, Goodhood, and international outdoor and streetwear retailers globally.
Sources: