Reusch
Reusch is an Italian family-owned sports-equipment brand specializing in goalkeeper gloves and winter-sports gloves.
Last updated October 14, 2026
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Overview
Reusch is a sports-equipment manufacturer headquartered in Bolzano, South Tyrol, Italy. The company is best known for technical gloves, particularly goalkeeper gloves for association football and gloves for alpine and other winter sports. Its products are sold through a combination of direct country management, international distribution partners, specialist sporting-goods retailers, and brand collaborations. The business began in 1934, when Karl Reusch developed gloves in the attic of his home in Metzingen, Germany. Under his son Gebhard Reusch, the company expanded from traditional glove making into sports equipment. A major turning point came in 1973, when Gebhard worked with German goalkeeper Sepp Maier to develop the Soft Grip, widely described as the first modern goalkeeper glove. Its latex-like adhesive palm was intended to improve ball control while protecting the hands. Maier wore Reusch gloves during the 1974 FIFA World Cup in Germany, giving the brand a prominent international football association. Reusch also developed an important winter-sports business. In the early 1970s it launched ski gloves reinforced with synthetic materials to protect fingers from contact with slalom poles. Ski gloves later became a major revenue source and, according to company information cited in reference material, represented roughly two-thirds of revenue in 2017. The brand subsequently expanded into ski clothing, team-sports products, and additional football and winter-sports accessories. During the 1980s and 1990s, Reusch became a leading sports-glove supplier. Its football profile was strengthened by partnerships with elite goalkeepers, while its winter-sports reputation grew through relationships with athletes and national ski teams. The company supplied gloves to many prominent goalkeepers, including World Cup winners, and has supported athletes in alpine skiing such as Mikaela Shiffrin, Marco Odermatt, Henrik Kristoffersen, Lara Gut-Behrami, and Lindsey Vonn. It also supplies or has supplied products to leading ski associations, including those of Austria, Switzerland, France, the United States, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia. Ownership changed several times after the family period. The Reusch family sold the company to the British Pentland Group in 1996, but Reusch remained there only until 2001, when a consortium including the Weitzmann family acquired it. The Weitzmann family progressively consolidated ownership and has owned the company entirely since 2015. In 2017, the business was converted into a joint stock company that remained wholly family owned, and its headquarters moved from Reutlingen, Germany, to Bolzano. Reutlingen continued to serve the business, including logistics and operational functions. Reusch distributes through 55 international distribution partners in more than 50 countries on five continents. Ten European countries are managed directly from headquarters, while logistics operations have been associated with sites in Reutlingen and Milan. Italy, France, and German-speaking Europe are among its strongest markets. The company also distributes selected third-party brands in Italy and Austria, including Speedo from 2023, and handles products connected with brands such as Red Bull Spect Eyewear, Deuter Sport, and Bogner. It also undertakes contract work for luxury and technical brands including Moncler, Prada, and Beretta. The brand remains focused on specialist performance equipment rather than broad-based sportswear. Its product development uses technologies and materials associated with Gore-Tex, PrimaLoft, and Polartec. In 2025, Reusch introduced the Attrakt Fusion Carbon 3D goalkeeper glove, whose elastic lattice punching zone was developed with the United States 3D-printing company Carbon. The company also opened a larger facility in Vignate in 2025 to consolidate logistics. Despite a major fire at its Reutlingen buildings in September 2024, which caused extensive fire and water damage to inventory, the business reported a delivery rate above 98 percent by November of that year.
History
Reusch traces its origins to 1934, when Karl Reusch began making gloves in the attic of his home in Metzingen, Germany. The company initially developed as a family glove business, but its direction changed significantly under Karl's son, Gebhard Reusch. Gebhard joined in 1972 and introduced a ski-glove collection. These gloves incorporated synthetic reinforcement intended to protect skiers' fingers from impacts with slalom poles, establishing a durable connection between the brand and winter sports. In 1973, Gebhard Reusch worked with German goalkeeper Sepp Maier to create the Soft Grip goalkeeper glove. The design used an adhesive palm layer to help goalkeepers catch and control the ball while reducing hand exposure to impact. Maier wore Reusch gloves during the 1974 FIFA World Cup in Germany, providing the brand with a high-profile football platform. During the 1970s, the company reportedly produced more than 330,000 goalkeeper gloves and over one million ski gloves annually. Reusch expanded its sports portfolio over the following decades. During the 1980s and 1990s it became a leading global sports-glove supplier, with particularly strong penetration among professional football goalkeepers and alpine skiers. At one point, 12 of 18 Bundesliga goalkeepers used Reusch gloves. The company presented its first ski-clothing collection in 1989 and entered team sports with a dedicated collection in 1992. Its athlete and federation relationships included prominent football goalkeepers such as Ubaldo Fillol, Nery Pumpido, Bodo Illgner, Cláudio Taffarel, Marcos Reis, David Seaman, Andreas Köpke, and Peter Schmeichel. In alpine skiing, its historical and current associations have included major athletes and national teams. The ownership structure changed in 1996, when Gebhard Reusch sold the company to Britain's Pentland Group. The Reusch family's active involvement ended around 2000, and the brand left Pentland in 2001 after acquisition by a consortium that included the Weitzmann family of Bolzano. The Weitzmann family had already been involved in sports-goods distribution in Italy for decades. Over time, other consortium shareholders exited, and the Weitzmann family acquired their interests. Reusch has been entirely owned by the family since 2015. Product development moved to Bolzano in 2009. In May 2017, the company was converted into a joint stock company while remaining 100 percent family owned. On 1 June 2017, its headquarters moved from Reutlingen to Bolzano, although the Reutlingen site continued to support the business. Reusch International S.p.A. AG now operates as a family holding company and distributes products through 55 international partners in more than 50 countries across five continents. Ten European markets are managed directly from Bolzano, and logistics activity has also been connected with Reutlingen and Milan. The business remains centered on goalkeeper gloves and winter-sports gloves. Winter products have historically represented the larger share of revenue, while football gloves provide visibility through elite athletes. Reusch has supported or supplied numerous international goalkeepers, including Unai Simón, who won the 2024 European Championship with Spain, as well as Alisson Becker and Gregor Kobel. Its alpine-ski relationships have included Mikaela Shiffrin, Marco Odermatt, Henrik Kristoffersen, Lara Gut-Behrami, Lucas Pinheiro Braathen, Alexis Pinturault, and Lindsey Vonn. The company also identifies seven leading ski associations as official supply partners: Austria, Switzerland, France, the United States, Norway, Liechtenstein, and Slovenia. Reusch has broadened its commercial role through distribution agreements and manufacturing services. Since 2023 it has distributed Speedo products in Italy and Austria, and it has also handled products associated with Red Bull Spect Eyewear, Deuter Sport, and Bogner. Its contract-manufacturing or development relationships include Moncler, Prada, and Beretta. The company uses materials and technologies associated with Gore-Tex, PrimaLoft, and Polartec. Operationally, Reusch faced a serious disruption in September 2024 when a fire at its Reutlingen buildings damaged inventory through both fire and water. The company reported restoring a delivery rate of more than 98 percent by November. In 2025 it opened a larger Vignate facility covering 15,900 square metres of usable space, partly to bring logistics together. The same year it introduced the Attrakt Fusion Carbon 3D goalkeeper glove, developed with Carbon and featuring a 3D-printed lattice punching zone. These developments reflect Reusch's continuing emphasis on specialist technical equipment, product engineering, athlete partnerships, and family ownership.
- 2025
Vignate facility and Carbon collaboration
[1]Reusch opened a larger Vignate site and launched the Attrakt Fusion Carbon 3D goalkeeper glove.
- 2024
Reutlingen fire
[1]A major fire damaged Reusch buildings and destroyed nearly half of the inventory through fire and water damage.
- 2023
Speedo distribution partnership begins
[1]Reusch began distributing Speedo products in Italy and Austria.
- 2017
Corporate conversion and headquarters move
[1]Reusch became a wholly family-owned joint stock company and moved its headquarters from Reutlingen to Bolzano.
- 2015
Weitzmann family obtains full ownership
[1]The Weitzmann family became the company's sole owner after acquiring the interests of other consortium shareholders.
- 2009
Product development relocated to Bolzano
[1]Reusch moved product-development activities to Bolzano, strengthening its Italian operating base.
- 2001
Acquisition by a consortium including the Weitzmann family
[1]Reusch left Pentland and was acquired by a consortium that included the Weitzmann family of Bolzano.
- 1996
Acquisition by Pentland Group
[1]Gebhard Reusch sold the company to the British Pentland Group.
- 1992
First team-sports collection
[1]The company introduced its first collection for team sports.
- 1989
First ski-clothing collection
[1]Reusch expanded beyond gloves by presenting its first ski-clothing collection.
Products and positioning
A specialist, performance-oriented sports-glove brand combining goalkeeper expertise with technical winter-sports equipment. Reusch emphasizes protection, grip, fit, weather resistance, athlete testing, and long-standing relationships with elite football goalkeepers and alpine-skiing professionals.
Football equipment · 1973
Goalkeeper gloves
Goalkeeper gloves are Reusch's most distinctive football category. The range builds on the Soft Grip design developed with Sepp Maier in 1973 and focuses on palm grip, impact protection, fit, flexibility, and durability. Reusch supplies professional goalkeepers in leading national leagues and has historically equipped World Cup winners and major international tournament players.
Winter-sports equipment · 1972
Ski gloves
Reusch ski gloves are designed for alpine and other winter-sports use. Early models introduced synthetic reinforcement to protect fingers from slalom poles. Current collections cover men, women, and children and use technical insulation, weatherproofing, and materials associated with Gore-Tex, PrimaLoft, and Polartec.
Winter-sports apparel · 1989
Ski clothing
Reusch entered ski clothing in 1989, extending its winter-sports offer beyond gloves. The category complements its technical glove collections and supports the brand's broader presence in alpine-skiing retail and team supply.
Goalkeeper gloves · 2025
Attrakt Fusion Carbon 3D
The Attrakt Fusion Carbon 3D is a goalkeeper glove introduced in 2025. Its punching zone was developed with Carbon, a United States 3D-printing company, and uses an elastic, tear-resistant lattice structure intended to provide cushioning while retaining flexibility.
Marketing campaigns
- 2024Elite goalkeeper and alpine-ski partnerships
International football · International alpine skiing
Reusch continued athlete and federation sponsorships, with Unai Simón, Wojciech Szczęsny, Dominik Livaković, Alisson Becker, Gregor Kobel, Mikaela Shiffrin, Marco Odermatt, and other leading athletes associated with the brand.
Outcome. The partnerships reinforced Reusch's specialist performance credentials in football and winter sports.
- 1996European Championship goalkeeper presence
Europe
At Euro 1996, goalkeepers from 11 of the 16 participating teams reportedly wore Reusch gloves, including David Seaman, Andreas Köpke, and Peter Schmeichel.
Outcome. The event demonstrated the brand's strong penetration among elite European goalkeepers.
- 1974Sepp Maier World Cup equipment partnership
Germany · International football
Reusch equipped German goalkeeper Sepp Maier with its goalkeeper gloves at the 1974 FIFA World Cup. The appearance helped associate the developing goalkeeper-glove category with elite international football.
Outcome. The partnership became a foundational reference point for Reusch's football positioning.
Brand decisions
2025
Launch of Attrakt Fusion Carbon 3DProduct launchBackground
Reusch sought to apply additive manufacturing to a high-impact component of goalkeeper equipment.
Action taken
The company launched a goalkeeper glove with a 3D-printed punching zone developed with Carbon.
Aftermath
The product extended Reusch's emphasis on technical innovation and specialist goalkeeper equipment.
2025
Logistics consolidation in VignateStrategyBackground
The company sought to concentrate logistics operations and increase site capacity.
Action taken
Reusch opened a new Vignate facility with 15,900 square metres of usable space.
Aftermath
The site became part of the company's expanded logistics infrastructure.
2023
Expansion into third-party brand distributionStrategyBackground
Reusch used its sporting-goods distribution capabilities to broaden its commercial role beyond products carrying the Reusch name.
Action taken
The company became a distribution partner for Speedo in Italy and Austria and also distributed other selected brands.
Aftermath
The move added branded distribution to Reusch's own-product business.
2017
Headquarters relocation to BolzanoStrategyBackground
Product development had already moved to Bolzano in 2009, reflecting the importance of the Italian operating base and the Weitzmann family's presence there.
Action taken
Reusch moved its headquarters from Reutlingen to Bolzano and converted into a wholly family-owned joint stock company.
Aftermath
The Reutlingen site continued to operate, while Bolzano became the corporate headquarters.
2015
Consolidation under the Weitzmann familyM&ABackground
Following the 2001 consortium acquisition, the original shareholder group was gradually reduced as shareholders exited.
Action taken
The Weitzmann family acquired the remaining interests and became the sole owner.
Aftermath
Reusch continued as a privately held family business.
1996
Sale to Pentland GroupM&ABackground
After decades as a family business, Reusch changed ownership as international sports-goods groups expanded their portfolios.
Action taken
Gebhard Reusch sold the company to the British Pentland Group.
Aftermath
Reusch remained within Pentland until 2001, when it was acquired by a consortium including the Weitzmann family.
Recent events
- 2025
Reusch introduced the Attrakt Fusion Carbon 3D goalkeeper glove[1]
Product launch · Product generation
The new goalkeeper glove used a 3D-printed punching zone developed with Carbon, designed as an elastic, tear-resistant lattice intended to improve cushioning.
- 2025
Reusch opened a larger logistics site in Vignate[1]
Other
The company opened a newly built site in Vignate with 15,900 square metres of usable space, partly to consolidate logistics operations in one location.
- 2024
Fire damaged Reusch facilities in Reutlingen[1]
Other
A major fire at Reusch buildings in Reutlingen caused fire and water damage and destroyed nearly half of the inventory. The company reported a delivery rate above 98 percent by November.
- 2023
Reusch began distribution partnership with Speedo in Italy and Austria[1]
Other
Reusch became a distribution partner for Speedo products in Italy and Austria, broadening its role beyond its own glove and sports-equipment lines.
- 2017
Reusch headquarters moved from Reutlingen to Bolzano[1]
Other
Reusch converted into a wholly family-owned joint stock company and moved its headquarters to Bolzano, Italy, while retaining operations at the Reutlingen site.
- 2015
Reusch became fully owned by the Weitzmann family[1]
M&A
The Weitzmann family completed the consolidation of ownership after earlier acquiring the company through a consortium and purchasing shares from other original shareholders.
Sources1 sources
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