E9 was founded in 1998 in Meschia, Italy, by climber and former bouldering world champion Mauro Calibani. The brand designs and manufactures climbing apparel and accessories for climbers, drawing clear inspiration from the shapes of the rocks and maintaining a strong connection to local production in Italy.
E9 grew out of Mauro Calibani’s personal dream and life as a climber. In the late 1990s, among the sandstone boulders and forests around Meschia, the idea took shape: to create clothing that reflects the movements, colors, and spirit of climbing. From the start, E9 was something entirely unique—clothing created by climbers, for climbers—where creative design, function, and personality were given equal weight. Over time, the style has become recognized worldwide, and today many associate E9 with a distinct, consistent design language.
From a niche climbing brand to a “Real Brand”
In the early years, E9 was the only brand working so intently on clothing for sport climbing and bouldering. The driving force has always been a passion for climbing and a desire to express something unique, rather than follow trends. E9 describes itself as a “Real Brand”—a brand that people recognize and return to, precisely because its expression is so consistent and rooted in climbing culture. Today, they continue to develop climbing pants, shorts, tops, and accessories with the same distinct identity: functional garments with playful designs for those who live close to the rock face, whether you’re climbing at the gym or out in the mountains.
KM Zero
E9 has long chosen to manufacture its garments locally in Italy. For them, it’s not just about quality, but also about a “KM Zero” philosophy—shorter transport distances, better control over production, and a more responsible environmental footprint. Since their business does not involve essential goods, they feel a particularly strong responsibility to protect the natural environment in which we all live. Since 2019, E9 has been a member of the European Outdoor Conservation Association (EOCA), where, together with other stakeholders, they support concrete projects to preserve wild areas and sensitive ecosystems. They are also actively working to reduce plastic use within their own supply chain. Through their “No Polybag Project,” E9 has been gradually phasing out plastic bags around their products since 2020 and has already achieved a very high percentage of plastic-free shipments—with the goal of reaching 100 percent.
Find E9 at Outnorth
At Outnorth, you’ll find a carefully curated selection of E9’s climbing apparel and accessories. Discover comfortable climbing pants, shorts, shirts, and details featuring E9’s signature style, and find your new favorites for both the bouldering wall and life around the crag.