Outdoor

Salomon: the DNA of the Alps at the heart of outdoor innovation

June 2026

5 min.

On the shores of Lake Annecy, with its crystal-clear waters and jagged peaks, Salomon has embodied the perfect blend of sport, innovation and local heritage for nearly 80 years.

A historic, innovative and socially committed flagship brand that has become a global benchmark in the outdoor sector, the small family-run factory founded in 1947 has evolved in step with trends whilst remaining deeply rooted in and committed to its Alpine home.

Annecy as its birthplace, the Alps as its laboratory

The adventure began in a small family-run workshop in the centre of Annecy.

There, the expertise developed by Georges Salomon – originally centred on wood saw blades – took shape quietly before rapidly branching out into the manufacture of ski edges. At that time, the ski – still in its rudimentary form – was little more than a wooden plank, but it took a giant leap forward in terms of technical sophistication.

For Salomon, contributing to the development of this innovation was a key and particularly symbolic milestone, marking the start of a true saga.

“Salomon is a company made up of enthusiasts, but above all of pragmatic people who are deeply rooted in their mountain communities. From the very beginning, it has also been driven by a very strong culture of product development and innovation,” emphasises Xavier Le Guen, Vice-President of Winter Sports Equipment at Salomon and President of Outdoor Sports Valley (OSV).

An almost innate understanding of the product has enabled the brand to establish itself as a pioneer and to mark the course of its history with a series of iconic products: the first modern bindings, rear-entry boots and other major innovations in the worlds of alpine and Nordic skiing have followed one after another.

Even today, each of these innovations, designed and developed at the Annecy Design Centre, continues to take shape within the confines of its original birthplace.

Marielle Goitschel visits the Salomon workshop

Innovation as a driving force

The company is also innovative in the area of distribution, having become, in the 1970s and 1980s, one of the first French companies to establish an international distribution network, thereby already asserting its global ambition. Manufacturing processes have also been rethought. With the launch of the Advanced Shoe Factory 4.0 in 2019 – a revolutionary robotised production facility developed in collaboration with other brands – Salomon has demonstrated its commitment to innovating its industrial model.

Whilst Salomon’s DNA is firmly rooted in technical performance, it is not limited to this single area of focus and demonstrates a constant ability to challenge sporting practices and support their evolution.

Its strength? Always starting from the ground up, focusing on the needs of the terrain and the evolution of mountain disciplines and sports. Closely connected to its communities, the company adapts tirelessly, constantly re-evaluating its designs as the trails unfold.

From freestyle skiing with the legendary TenEighty double-tip skis to the rise of trail running in the 2000s, the brand has often anticipated changes in how sports are practised:

“Innovation at Salomon goes beyond the product: it also – and above all – concerns the way in which sport and sporting activities develop, and how we connect with our natural, social and human environment,” explains Xavier Le Guen.

This momentum is driving Salomon to reinvent itself and continue its expansion into new territories. Whilst the aim remains to strengthen its credibility in its traditional sports (skiing, trail running, hiking), it is also about pushing the boundaries by exploring new areas. Among these, the sneakers segment is an area where Salomon intends to make headway. “Until now, the urban trainers niche has largely been dominated by the worlds of athletics, team sports and action sports. It’s up to us to become the first outdoor brand to position itself firmly in this market,” explains Xavier Le Guen.

And underlying it all is a guiding principle: connecting people with nature, both in their sporting activities and in their everyday lives.

Responsibility and inclusion: innovations that make a difference

In an area as sensitive and closely connected to its environment as that of Lake Annecy and its surrounding peaks, Salomon naturally places environmental responsibility at the heart of its development.

To this end, the company is taking action on several fronts, working to reduce its carbon footprint in line with its 2030 and 2050 targets, developing eco-design, and driving product innovation in terms of recyclability – for example, with the Index range of shoes and a helmet model, both of which are fully recyclable.

With its Change our future strategy for 2030, Salomon has embarked on a path of transformation by setting out key priorities, notably to strengthen its climate strategy, develop its circular design and eco-design platform, and improve the monitoring of its overall impact.

On a human level, Salomon’s commitment is reflected in a strong desire to promote inclusion through the development of equipment adapted for people with disabilities.

Through the Adaptive Project, the brand designs innovative prosthetics to make outdoor sports such as running, skiing and snowboarding accessible. This initiative arose from a collaboration with Jérôme Bernard, a triple amputee, who co-developed a prosthesis with Airbus that is not restricted to elite athletes. Approached to create an insole suitable for mountain running, Salomon contributed to the design of the Hopper prosthesis for use on trails.

This breakthrough enabled six amputee athletes to reach a 3,000-metre summit in the Alps as early as 2022. In 2023, the brand officially launched its para team, which competed notably in the MaXi-Race around Lake Annecy.

The Adaptive Project: making outdoor sports accessible

A drive that has given rise to a whole series of innovations in the fields of skiing and snowboarding.

With the backing of the Salomon Foundation, the brand is fully committed to this drive and is taking even broader action to make mountain sports more accessible to all, notably by supporting the organisation of school ski trips, backing community projects and organising events that bring people together and foster social cohesion.

The territory at the heart of the reactor

Whilst Salomon has a strong international presence, its local roots remain a strategic pillar. To this end, the company draws on a dense and complementary ecosystem: businesses in the Arve Valley, research laboratories at the University of Savoie Mont Blanc, creative agencies, start-ups… It is an entire network that revolves around the Salomon universe.

This tightly-knit network is also structured by Outdoor Sports Valley (OSV), a cluster that brings together key players in the sector. “OSV plays a vital facilitating role in helping the outdoor industry to grow, both economically and socially,” notes Xavier Le Guen.

For Salomon, this connection enables the brand to maintain a strong link with its roots, to affirm its loyalty to the region whilst fostering collective innovation. And here, take it from us mountain folk, there’s never any shortage of resources or ideas.

An exceptional region that fosters collective innovation

As the quintessential icon of Annecy, Salomon naturally plays a part in raising the profile of this region that is so dear to it. Whether through its events, its athletes or its projects, the company plays a major role in reinforcing the destination’s dynamic and responsible image.

For, as the company is well aware, it is not enough simply to promote outdoor activities; it must also be done in a sensible and sustainable way. By actively participating in initiatives such as the Ordinary Project led by OSV, the company is doing its bit to ensure that every participant plays a part in raising awareness of respect for ecosystems and the coexistence of different mountain activities, thereby promoting responsible and informed sporting practices.

“Today, these considerations are fully integrated into Salomon’s roadmap: performance and responsibility must go hand in hand,” insists Xavier Le Guen.

A success story from Annecy

Entre héritage artisanal et innovation de pointe, engagement sociétal et rayonnement international, Salomon incarne une réussite emblématique du territoire. Une entreprise qui, depuis les rives du lac d’Annecy, continue de tracer sa voie… et d’ouvrir la voie à toute une filière.

Whilst Salomon’s development remains closely linked to Annecy, the company’s growth story is truly inspiring. As it approaches its 80th anniversary, with turnover exceeding $2 billion and sustained growth, Salomon has already expanded to a whole new scale, yet it has retained its soul, remaining true to its Alpine identity, and kept its heart firmly rooted in its heritage and history.

Combining artisanal heritage with cutting-edge innovation, social commitment and international influence, Salomon embodies an iconic success story for the region. A company which, from the shores of Lake Annecy, continues to forge its own path… and to lead the way for an entire industry.