Ingredients to Avoid in Grip (and Cosmetic Products)
5 common ingredients to avoid in grip and cosmetic products you use daily and in the one you use to add grip to your sport performance.
Behind every great revolution, there is almost always a stroke of luck. For THEPOLE, it all started like this: an article read by chance, a newsletter, an interview with one of Italy’s first pole dancers. In just a few lines, a sentence that sparked an idea: no one in Italy was manufacturing pole dance poles.
For Danilo and Angelo, it was impossible to ignore. At first glance, the product seemed “simple”—especially for those, like them, who already had experience in manufacturing sports equipment. They contacted the pole dancer through the magazine’s editorial staff, met with her, listened, and asked questions. And that’s where it all began: the first prototypes, still a far cry from today’s THEPOLE poles, but already imbued with a clear vision.
What began as an experiment within AGM—a family-owned company with deep roots in metalworking—became, step by step, a global benchmark brand. Today, THEPOLE exports to 65 countries and continues to redefine safety and performance standards for those practicing pole dance and aerial disciplines.
We interviewed Danilo to hear how it all really happened: from the initial idea to the innovations that have transformed the industry.
I think both pole dance and aerial disciplines are artistic forms that you grow into over time. Honestly, I feel like I fall in love with this world more every day—it’s a feeling that keeps growing.
Every time I attend a competition or see a post from someone who finds their own way to express themselves through pole dance, I feel a strong emotion. It’s this power to communicate that always strikes me.
Contrary to what people might think, the biggest challenge wasn’t product design—that skill was already in AGM’s DNA. The real complexity was managing the full product.
Moving from making components for other companies to designing packaging that can survive shipping to 65 countries was a huge step. On top of that, we had to build a global marketing network from scratch, so we could be present worldwide without relying on traditional resellers. These are complex challenges, and we still face them every day with the goal of constantly improving.
What pushed us beyond the first cautious attempts—and made us fully switch our identity into what is now THEPOLE—was people’s support.
Feeling the excitement of those who tried our poles at competitions, and compared them with what the market offered, gave us the final confirmation. From there, we started supplying poles to gyms and schools, and that positive feedback became the engine of our growth.
Pole dance and aerial arts are relatively new disciplines, so unfortunately, there are still no universal technical standards for design or structural testing. At the moment, each manufacturer defines their own standards based on their skills and facilities.
This is something we at THEPOLE are working hard on. My recent appointment as Commissioner of the Pole Dance and Aerial Arts Department within the Italian Dance Sport and Musical Sports Federation has exactly this goal: to write shared rules so equipment can be safer and more reliable for all users.
My first recommendation is regular cleaning. It’s essential to use specific cleaners, like our THEPOLE Cleaner, designed to remove dirt and bacteria (especially important if the pole is used by more than one person) while keeping the surface grip unchanged. A surface that is cleaned regularly not only makes the environment more hygienic, but also improves performance.
Second, it’s important to periodically check that the pole is installed correctly—especially at home, where it’s often taken down and put back up.
Finally, I recommend using only compatible products and avoiding DIY solutions. The only approved grips, the “THEPOLE Approved” ones, are the ones from Polipole. Besides offering excellent grip, they are the only ones that guarantee they won’t damage the pole’s surface over time.
The discipline has become extremely dynamic and spectacular. It has opened up to a very wide audience: on one side, athletes coming from other sports with great physical skills; on the other, everyday people looking for a way to move and express themselves.
Today people look for complex dynamic moves, strength elements, and demanding choreographies. Our response is to stay constantly present at events: we listen to feedback and expectations from those who use our equipment, so we can anticipate ever-growing needs.
The Quick Spin system is one of the most appreciated innovations in the world. It lets you switch from static mode to spinning mode instantly, without keys or tools. The need came from both classes and shows: removing the stress of looking for an Allen key and, at the same time, protecting the product’s integrity. Using a tool repeatedly to tighten a mechanism increases mechanical wear.
Quick Spin guarantees speed, safety under high loads, and long-term reliability. It has been a real driver of the industry’s evolution, inspiring many competitors who previously used more outdated solutions.
International federations and the entertainment world are showing more and more interest in pole dance, and gyms are asking for equipment that is increasingly high-performing and versatile. The future of pole dance is still to be written, because it’s such a young sport.
In this vision, I want THEPOLE to keep doing what it does best: innovating the product. We don’t want to become resellers of other people’s products; our mission is to think and build solutions that help people express themselves at their highest level. As I like to say during competitions:
“THEPOLE builds stronger and stronger wings, so you can fly higher and higher.”
We thank Danilo for this interview full of ideas and inspiring insights.
Sara Martinelli
Polipole
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