ROA

ROA – Hybrid Italian Footwear and Apparel with a Distinct Outdoor Philosophy

ROA sits at the cutting edge of technical outdoor style, weaving together avant-garde materials and a boldly experimental design language. The result? A collection that strikes a chord with both fashion lovers and modern-day explorers. Born in 2015, this Italian shoe brand sprang to life thanks to the creative spark between Slam Jam’s inventive team and acclaimed footwear designer Maurizio Quaglia. The brand’s name is a nod to Forcella della Roa in the Dolomites—a place whose wild, craggy beauty is stitched into the spirit of every ROA creation.

The brand’s story began when Quaglia noticed something missing: a yawning gap between overbuilt alpine boots and clunky, old-school hikers. He imagined a different path—a hybrid brand that could blend real performance with head-turning modern looks, without letting go of comfort or versatility. Since then, ROA has become shorthand for a hybrid attitude towards landscapes and lifestyles—melding functional fashion with next-level tech. Forget leaning on nostalgia; ROA is all about blazing new trails, not just retracing old ones.

Brand Philosophy – Function, Experimentation, and Creative Identity

Unlike your typical heritage outdoor label, ROA’s philosophy is built on function first—brought to life through state-of-the-art techniques and high-performance inspiration. They’re not just making gear; they’re crafting a vision that radiates brand identity across everything they do. Their take on technical footwear riffs on mountain trail DNA but refuses to play by the rulebook. Each season, ROA reinvents its classics—sometimes channeling sleek minimalism, other times surprising us with unique materials like kudu skin or cutting-edge textiles you’d never expect to see in hiking boots.

The leap from shoes to full-fledged apparel happened with their FW22 clothing debut—giving fans and collaborators a chance to see the entire ROA universe in one place. When womenswear dropped for SS25, it underscored ROA’s commitment to inclusivity and fresh takes on timeless silhouettes—all seen through a modern lens. And let’s not forget their high-profile collaborations: partnerships with ALYX, Stüssy, Brain Dead, and Our Legacy have injected new energy into each collection, expanding ROA’s reach while keeping things exciting.

The Fusion of Fashion and Technical Outdoor Wear – A Modern Approach

ROA designs footwear that walks the line—effortlessly balancing city style with rugged outdoor utility. What sets them apart in the fashion world? It’s their fearless embrace of experimentation; they marry avant-garde outdoor tech with Italy’s legendary craftsmanship. Sure, their products perform—sometimes better than you’d expect—but performance isn’t their only goal. Instead, ROA is rewriting the rules for hiking gear and apparel in an era where gorpcore is as at home on city streets as it is deep in the backcountry.

You’ll find ROA collections brought to life in atmospheric lookbooks—think moody cave shoots or snapshots oozing spontaneity—that capture those unfiltered moments of adventure. Through these visuals, ROA shares its hybrid philosophy and unwavering dedication to blending function with form.

ROA Collaborations and Community Impact

The buzz around ROA keeps building thanks to standout collaborations with some of streetwear and fashion’s biggest names. These joint projects show off just how adaptable ROA gear really is—and help broadcast their brand story to a wider crowd looking for outdoor tech that doesn’t sacrifice style (or vice versa).

From humble origins near Forcella della Roa to its current spot at the crossroads of innovation and style, ROA remains dedicated to making forward-thinking products for anyone who values creativity as much as capability—on winding city streets or wild alpine trails alike.