As a brand, Gramicci has always been about one thing: freedom. Founded in the early 1980s by free-spirited Yosemite climber Mike Graham, from the outset it was imbued with an independent, adventurous spirit. That had a lot to do with Graham’s associations with the Stonemasters, the original dirtbag climbers who did as much for climbing counterculture as they did for pushing the grades.

Unable to find shorts or pants that worked for climbing, Graham simply designed and made his own. The G-pants were the first legwear to feature innovations that are now staple features of technical outdoor clothing, such as a gusseted crotch and an integrated belt. These elements gave unsurpassed freedom of movement. Climbers loved them, but so did California’s bikers, skaters and surfers. Gramicci’s defiant ethos, maverick attitude and stylish yet functional products also meant the brand soon made the leap into streetwear. Today, though Gramicci pants still work well for summer cragging, their simple aesthetic means they’re equally at home in the metropolis too.