Road to ORBDAYS: Artcrafts returns to Riva del Garda with its leading brands
On the occasion of the Outdoor & Running Business Days in Riva del Garda, Artcrafts confirms its presence with a selection of its most representative brands across the outdoor, running, and lifestyle worlds.
Founded in 1958, Artcrafts specializes in the selection and commercial development of international products and brands in the lifestyle, fashion, and sports sectors. With a diversified portfolio—including owned, licensed, and distributed brands—spanning footwear, apparel, and accessories, the company has been operating for years with an omnichannel approach, covering all major distribution channels: independent retail, large-scale retail, e-commerce, and direct retail.
Brands featured at the show
norda
Canadian brand norda was born from the passion of Willa and Nick Martire, two endurance runners and life partners who shared a dream: to create the ultimate technical trail running shoe that would combine high performance and sustainability, without compromise.
In early 2020, the pandemic gave Willa and Nick the chance to turn their vision into reality. Through Zoom calls with athletes, artisans, and material experts from around the world, they leveraged their global network in the footwear industry to help shape what was possible. This is where the norda dream began, and where the first prototypes were tested under the toughest Canadian conditions imaginable—ranging from -35°C to +35°C.
Craft Sportswear
Founded in 1977 in Sweden, Craft began its journey when founder Anders Bengtsson invented the base layer as a result of a collaboration with the Swedish Armed Forces. Craft is the ultimate endurance brand, with a well-established authority in Nordic Skiing—a sport where endurance is the defining trait. Craft collaborates with industry-leading companies such as Vittoria (read more here). The brand is also firmly committed to essential sustainability principles. At Riva del Garda, Craft is presenting the Endurance 3, its latest road running shoe. This new version promises even greater comfort, responsiveness, and performance.
Canadian
A brand that combines high levels of performance—in research, development, and customer service—with a philosophy that embodies the best values of a family-owned business. These include a near-artisanal attention to detail and strong relationships with all brand stakeholders. Canadian positions itself as an alternative to so-called luxury outerwear, offering a blend of stylistic and technological innovation aimed at delivering aesthetically valuable solutions for contemporary life and social living.
Ciele Athletics
Ciele Athletics was founded in early 2014, when Mike Giles and Jeremy Bresnen came together to launch a new performance-focused running apparel brand.
After considering various products to start with, they realized that no one was truly paying attention to running caps. From this insight, they set out to design the best running hat on the market.
Ciele Athletics hats—breathable, lightweight, quick-drying, and featuring soft brims—have proven to be outstanding in a wide range of conditions, from 5K races to elite events, from Boston to the Alps.
Cotopaxi
Cotopaxi was founded in 2014 with the goal of becoming a model for positive change in the outdoor apparel industry. Today, following best practices in both the industry and sustainable development, Cotopaxi creates innovative products for adventure travel—designed to help you explore the world and improve it at the same time.
Each year, 1% of Cotopaxi’s revenues go to the Cotopaxi Foundation, established in 2019. The foundation makes grants to proven nonprofit organizations focused on alleviating poverty through health, education, and livelihood programs—particularly in Latin America.
Reef
In 1984, South American entrepreneurial brothers Fernando and Santiago Aguerre founded Reef out of their love for the beach and surfing.
The two brothers redefined, redesigned, and reengineered every component of Reef footwear, applying uncompromising quality standards and a keen attention to detail.
What began in 1984 has evolved into Reef sandals—now a symbol of a free, comfortable, and joyful lifestyle. More than 35 years later, REEF remains a global footwear brand that connects people to the fun and freedom found in nature.
Teva
The original sport sandal was born on the banks of the Grand Canyon in 1984. The idea came from a young, intuitive river guide who wanted to keep sandals from floating downstream—so they strapped watchbands to a pair of old flip-flops. Just like that, Teva was born.
In the years since, Teva has stayed true to its pioneering spirit and continues to celebrate the freedom to explore.
