our history
AKU was founded after World War II in Montebelluna, the cradle of Italian sports footwear.
Here, where artisanal knowledge is handed down from generation to generation, the founder Galliano Bordin grew up among leathers and uppers, learning first to repair, then to create footwear.
From his experience, the Dinsport brand first came to life and, subsequently, in the 1990s with expansion into Europe, the AKU brand.
Inspired by a benevolent spirit from the legends of Easter Island, this name represents a deep connection with nature and respect for those who live in it.
Slope GTX is born, the first hiking model under the AKU brand and the first outdoor shoe with a Gore-Tex membrane. Lightweight, waterproof, breathable, colorful, and extremely comfortable, Slope GTX quickly becomes an icon in the world of traditional hiking and very popular among the free flight community.
Dinsport becomes AKU
The Conero GTX, a premium backpacking model, is born. Sturdy yet lightweight and with an eye-catching design, the Conero GTX is paired with the new Vibram Fourà sole, designed exclusively for AKU. This technical element, more than 30 years later, still represents, along with the Conero GTX, an iconic combination in the world of authentic mountain footwear.
AKU launches the SPIDER KEVLAR GTX, an innovative high-performance mountaineering model that combines the traditional hand-lasted manufacturing technique with a direct injection system for the upper. This highly innovative solution creates a stable climbing boot that's comfortable on long treks approaching ice or rock routes.
AKU is the first company in the footwear sector worldwide to obtain environmental impact certification for the BELLAMONT PLUS model through the EPD - environmental product declaration protocol.
Technical and financial support begins for the international scientific research project Ice Memory, led by the Institute of Polar Sciences at the Italian National Research Council. It is currently one of the leading scientific programs studying climate evolution on planet Earth.
The MINIMA model receives the ISPO Award Gold, as the best proposal for the winter season in the urban outdoor category.
Carbon Footprint Systematic Approach Certification for the science-based calculation of CO₂ emissions for each collection model.
The constant pursuit of technical innovation leads to AURAI DFS GTX, a high-performance functional boot designed for mountain guides and experienced mountaineers. In the same year, IMPACTO was created, the guide manual for estimating CO₂ emissions from different categories of outdoor footwear.
AKU presents its first footwear collection dedicated to the professional market, inaugurating a new phase in the company's commercial and production development.
To mark the launch of the new models for the 2026 summer collection, the new AKU logo is presented, signaling the evolutionary path of a constantly evolving brand.
