Salomon at Lemkus
In 1947, in a small workshop in Annecy in the French Alps, François Salomon started making steel edges for skis with the help of his wife and his son, Georges. It was humble work, but it set the tone for everything that followed: practical gear, built by people who actually spent their time in the mountains.
Georges turned that workshop into one of the most inventive names in outdoor sport. In 1957 Salomon introduced the Skade toe piece and changed ski bindings for good. The SX90 ski boot followed in 1979, the SNS Nordic system in 1980, and in 1991 the Monocoque ski made Salomon the first brand to build a full ski system. Georges summed up the mindset himself: "What fascinates me the most is what I'm going to invent tomorrow."
Tomorrow eventually meant moving beyond snow. Salomon carried what it had learned from ski boots into inline skates, snowboarding and, crucially, trail running.
The XA Pro arrived in 2002 and became a staple on mountain trails worldwide. In 2013 came the XT-6, a shoe built for ultra-distance racing that, a decade later, ended up on city streets and in fashion editorials as gorpcore took hold.
That crossover is what makes Salomon so interesting right now. The same lacing systems, grippy outsoles and protective uppers designed for alpine terrain are now part of the sneaker conversation, with collaborations like the 2026 XT-Whisper Void with Carpet Company pushing the brand deeper into streetwear.
Through it all, the values haven't shifted: imagination, family spirit, commitment, simplicity and diversity. Nearly 80 years on, Salomon still exists to help people play, progress and connect with nature.
