The story of Salewa began in 1935 in Munich. Under the name Sa-Le-Wa (short for Sattler und Leder-Waren), the company grew from a small saddlery into a pioneer of alpine equipment. The people developing the products were passionate climbers themselves. They created gear that had never existed on the market before – but which they needed for the challenges they faced on their own expeditions. Products such as adjustable crampons, the Anden backpack or the Helium helmet shaped generations of mountaineers and made the Salewa name known internationally, well beyond the alpine scene. 

The path to Oberalp began when Heiner Oberrauch – at the time still running the family’s sports retail business in Bolzano and later active as a sports importer – recognized the potential of the brand. As Salewa’s licensee, Oberalp developed the first fleece apparel collection in the mid-1980s and successfully introduced it to the Italian market. This step marked the beginning of a close collaboration, characterized by courage, creativity, and a shared passion for the mountains. 

In 1990, Salewa became part of the Oberalp family and found its new home in Bolzano, in the heart of the Dolomites. Since then, the brand’s heart has been beating here – inspired by nature, shaped by a strong community, and always with the ambition to take new paths. Aesthetics, design, and functionality are deeply embedded in the DNA of the brand. 

For its 90th anniversary, Salewa is presenting a special collection that builds a bridge between past and present. Retro designs meet modern functionality and sustainable materials. At its core, however, this anniversary is about more than products – it is about people, their stories, and their deep bond with the mountains. 

For Oberalp, this anniversary is also an expression of the values that guide us: the courage to take new paths and leave our own trace, respect for our roots, the drive to rethink and reinvent, and responsibility for the future. Because heritage is never about standing still – it is inspiration to shape tomorrow. Always with the mountains at our side.