Salomon was born in a quaint alpine town called Annecy, a place nicknamed the “Venice of the Alps” due to its pastel-coloured buildings, cobbled streets and bridges which loop over winding canals. In 1947, it was here that George Salomon and his parents, Francois and Jeanne, had the initiative to use a wood saw blade to make metal edges for skis – the rest is history.

What has been the key to Salomon’s success though? High-quality outdoor products have always been pivotal to the brand, a philosophy which started with a small team of skilled engineers. Legend has it that George once heard a rattle in one of his products, which he proceeded to throw out of the window shouting “No one is going to put my name on that!”. This became known as the “clickity-clack” to his employees, this was a defining moment which has set the standard for years to come.

In 1972, the label sold more than 1 million pairs of bindings, reaching record company sales of 46,140,000 francs. This was also a special year on a global scale, as Salomon entered the Japanese Market, supplying competitors at the Saporo Winter Olympic Games with equipment. By the end of the decade, in 1979, new ventures were made as the brand decided to start manufacturing footwear for skiing with the launch of the SX90. TGV designer – Roger Tallon – was tasked with designing it; the outcome was a huge success, offering premium materials and a design process that mastered plastic moulding and the multi-injection of technical components.

The next decade wasn’t shy of evolution for the brand, with the iconic Système Nordique Salomon boot being released in 1980, offering a revolutionary binding system based on flex binding. The first pair of skis were also announced – the S9000s – built with a monocoque structure and a self-supporting beam. By 1992, the company were crafting gear for outdoor summer sports and hiking. The brand quickly became known in the hiking world for its innovative technology and reliability on any terrain. Hiking boots and Salomon Snowboard followed in the ‘90s, it was clear that Salomon was leading the way with innovative, reliable outdoor sportswear.  

Salomon wasn’t just a label for cold and icy confines, they eventually released skate, surf, cycling and running lines. From their recognisable blue S-Core surfboards getting a place in the Australian Surfing Hall of Fame to the 2007 Saab Salomon Mountain X-Race and Kilian Jornet winning the UTMB with an innovative trail running backpack – Salomon’s sporting influence became universal.

Fast forward to today, the brand is still based in the humble town of Annecy and it produces gear for a global audience of all ages and for all terrains. Wear the brand on competitive trail runs, tough three-day hikes, gliding down mountains or wear with pride in urban settings. Something of a cult hero within high end fashion and streetwear, Salomon silhouettes have stomped on runways in Paris for CMMN SWDN and appeared in look books for the likes of Palace.

As Salomon continues to innovate and plant its cleats into the summit of sporting goods, it’s now a great time to stock up on products for the next season. There’s not many places better than our selection – pick out something today.