L.Holl x AiC Editorial: Salomon Sportstyle
Founded in 1947 by the late Georges Salomon and located at the heart of Annecy, a town in the Rhone-Alpes region of southeast France, Salomon’s winter sport legacy is one that has continued to sculpt the outdoor industry for the past 74 years. Originally specialising in skiing hardware, in particular ski edges that were innovatively designed utilising the wood saw blade machinery that Georges’ father François had available in his one-room metalworking shop, Salomon continues to set the performative standard for all terrain gear thanks to their progressive nature and their ability to remain focused, dedicated and passionate all at the same time.
We teamed up with Louis Hollinson, who runs the outdoor Instagram page L.Holl, who styled our lookbook for the latest Salomon Sportstyle collection.
Ranked the number one binding manufacturer in the world in 1972, with their iconic alpine boots entering the market in ‘79 and both their XC Boots and S9000 ski line debuting during the early ‘90s, Salomon’s commitment to quality gear is one that ultimately stems from the brand’s curious temperament and their strive to continually create the next generation of gear so that like minded individuals can ultimately ‘live the joy of progressive of their sport’. Acquired by AMER Sports in 2005, the same group that houses Arc'teryx, Suunto and Sweden-based PeakPerformance under its umbrella, Salomon transitioned from a winter remit into the turf of all season and all terrain capability with pioneering trail runner silhouettes such as the Raid Race inspired XA Pro and Speedcross joined by other technical boots. Much like brands such as Klättermusen, Columbia and Patagonia, Salomon finds itself well placed at the intersection of what’s best described as the contemporary ‘Sportstyle’ category, with archive revived profiles undergoing recontextualisation to harvest their original performative blueprint and apply it to the necessities of modern day, suburban and cityscape living. Boosted by its ‘Gorpcore’ nickname, the rising trend in outdoor apparel is one that bodes well with ever-evolving lifestyles, with Salomon’s ambidextrous appeal a trait that extends far beyond the brand’s humble ski-edge foundation.
With premium outdoor apparel, pack gear and accessories all designed with explorative intent in mind, Salomon’s formidable footwear legacy continues to inspire outside its original trail trekking confines. Archival influence keeps the brand’s nonchalant aesthetic in check for 2021, with the pro-actively redesigned XA Pro 1 styled in honour of its high-performance ‘01 predecessor to offer the very best in all terrain comfort. In-house technical advancements such as their own specially manufactured ContagripTM MA tread, their QuicklaceTM fastening systems and their OrthoLiteTM insoles combine to provide a comfortable and well-cushioned wear, with descent control shoes such as the world class Salomon XT-6 fitted with ACS stabilised EnergyCellTM technology and performative SensiFitTM cradling for a secure and well-structured wear that doesn’t detract from the silhouette’s original ultra-marathon ties. For 2021, Salomon also introduce yet another redesign of the XT-Wings 2 silhouette from the brand’s Wings collection, with innovative ProfeelTM Film and 3D open mesh underlays styled as a testament to the design’s breathable ventilation and its lightweight composure.
Backed by their 2016 debuting ‘Time to Play’ campaign that urged people to ‘take the time they need to go outside and play’ and by their 2019 announced WMN campaign that aims to empower women in the outdoors, Salomon’s unrestrained mindset has always been one that focuses on a celebration of outdoor innovation in all its forms. Looking to honour authenticity in all that they do, Salomon continue to be guided by a desire to increase their percentage of waste recycled and reused fabrics to 70% by 2025, whilst their ongoing commitments to the Sustainable Apparel Coalition (SAC) and the use of the Higg Facility Modules for social and environmental performance are a tribute to the brand’s loyalty to protecting and preserving the unparalleled wonder of the great outdoors for all to enjoy.
Shop all Salomon at Always in Colour.
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