David Gellis, president of Gordini USA, spoke with SGB Executive about the iconic winter glove maker’s 70-year heritage, its recent entry into the sock category, current business conditions, and future plans.
Gellis’ uncle, Gordon, founded the Vermont-based brand in 1956, and his father, Phil, is Gordini’s CEO and lives in Florida. David Gellis has been president since 2012 and handles day-to-day operations.
SGB: Gordini is celebrating its 70th anniversary in 2026. Can you tell us how Gordini got started?
David Gellis: Gordini started as a family business, and it remains so today. At the time, in 1956, most gloves were simply constructed and lacked functional materials. At the same time, skiing was gaining momentum, but no one was really designing gloves specifically engineered for it. There was a gap, and that’s where Gordini was born. From the beginning, the idea was simple: make gloves that keep you outside longer. That philosophy hasn’t changed. We are product people; we are passionate about bringing products to life and innovating responsibly to solve real problems.
SGB: Are gloves still the primary category for Gordini, ahead of goggles and socks?
David Gellis: Gloves still drive volume. It’s our heritage. But the mix is evolving meaningfully with socks and goggles. We understand how important small pieces of gear, like gloves and socks, are for managing our comfort in outdoor environments. That’s what we are evolving and solving for.
SGB: How is the glove business doing?
David Gellis: Gloves are healthy, and the category is competitive. We’ve grown our position because of product quality and consistency. When a customer buys a Gordini glove, they know it will deliver warmth, fit, and durability, and it will perform well in winter conditions. We’re committed to responsible and purpose-built innovation. Our glove design evolves and iterates with each season, and we are excited to bridge our heritage brand with thoughtful technology to bring best-in-class gloves to our customers.
SGB: Gordini introduced socks in the ski and hiking categories in 2023. Why did you enter the category, and what differentiation is Gordini bringing to it?
David Gellis: Like gloves, socks are small pieces of gear that make a huge impact on your outdoor experience. The sock category offers plenty of options but is short on real innovation. A lot of socks are built around material stories (merino wool, synthetic), but very few are engineered around how the foot moves and performs inside a boot or a shoe.
That’s where OrbitFit comes in. It’s our proprietary layered knit construction that maps fibers to the sock’s architecture and the geometry of the foot. In effect, our layered knitting allows us to build quilted cushioning, moisture-wicking channels underfoot, zoned reinforcements at high wear spots, and a stretch fit that doesn’t bunch, slip, or fatigue over a full day of action. The reception has been very strong. Our partners, everyone from athletes to retail buyers, immediately get what makes it special. Once they put it on, they feel the difference.
SGB: Can you tell us about your recent extension into warm-weather performance socks, an even bigger market?
David Gellis: Summer socks require intentional, purpose-built engineering. You’re managing heat, moisture, and friction rather than cold. Fit requirements are also demanding for hikers or trail runners. OrbitFit translates directly by providing a better-fitting sock that leverages yarn fibers where they will function best. We’ve built ventilation and moisture transfer zones specifically for warmer weather. The result is a sock that allows you to focus on the adventure and blissfully forget about your feet!
SGB: Is the sock opportunity for Gordini focused on your core ski/outdoor dealers or aimed at new distribution, like run specialty?
David Gellis: We see opportunity in both. Our existing ski and outdoor dealer network is the foundation. Those relationships are deep, and those buyers trust us. Getting OrbitFit socks into a ski or mountain shop next to our gloves is a natural extension of what they already know about Gordini. But run, trail and summer specialty are real targets for us too. The performance sock consumer in that channel is sophisticated. They’re looking for exactly the kind of fit-driven differentiation we’ve developed. That’s an opportunity, and we are consciously building the right retail partnerships to grow thoughtfully.
SGB: How has business been? How have you navigated the recent ups and downs of the outdoor specialty channel and tariff pressures?
David Gellis: The past couple of years have required adaptability and discipline. The outdoor specialty channel has been under pressure, and everybody in this industry knows it. Retailers have been cautious with inventory, which means brands have had to be smarter about how they plan and how they support their partners. We’ve navigated it by leaning into our partnerships, suppliers and retailers. We’re a family business after all. These relationships matter, and we pay attention to how best to serve our partners and customers.
On tariffs, like everyone, we’ve had to carefully evaluate our supply chain. It’s an ongoing challenge that highlights the uncertainty of the moment.
SGB: What’s your outlook for the coming year — for Gordini and the broader ski/outdoor space?
David Gellis: I’m cautiously optimistic. I think the outdoor consumer is engaged, and demand remains strong for quality, responsibly built gear. For Gordini specifically, the sock launch gives us a meaningful growth opportunity that didn’t exist two years ago. And the warm-weather angle extends our relevance across more months of the year, which matters for both our brand and our retail partners. That’s a real tailwind for us specifically, regardless of what’s happening in the broader channel.
SGB: What are your key goals and growth drivers in the years ahead? Will Gordini explore more categories?
David Gellis: The sock category is the priority. We are focused on our distribution, building consumer awareness, and continuing to refine the line based on what we learn in the market. OrbitFit is a technology platform, and we have room to grow our line within it.
Seventy years is a long time to be in business. We didn’t get here by chasing trends. We got here by building things that work and standing behind them. That’s the plan for the next seventy too.
Image courtesy Gordini
