From the Alps to the Archive Salomon Climbs Its Way Into Streetwear Royalty
There was a time when Salomon was all about altitude, not attitude. Born in the French Alps in 1947, the brand built its legacy on ski bindings and mountain trails the kind of gear you’d trust when the air got thin and the terrain got wild. But somewhere between the trail and the runway, Salomon found itself in the heart of the streetwear conversation. And now, thanks to Archive, South Africa is getting a front-row seat to that transformation.
What makes Salomon’s rise special is that it never had to fake the function. While most sneaker brands focused on lifestyle and sports, Salomon already had the tech Contagrip soles, Agile Chassis Systems, GORE-TEX layers built for performance, not hype. But then the fashion world caught on. Designers like MM6 Maison Margiela, COMME des GARÇONS, and KITH started collaborating with the brand, turning utilitarian trail sneakers into high-fashion artifacts. Suddenly, the XT-6, XT-4, and ACS Pro became the uniform for creative nomads people who wanted their sneakers to do something while still looking next-level. Salomon went from hiking up mountains to climbing up the cultural ladder.
Here at home, Archive has become the plug connecting South Africans to that global wave. It’s not just a sneaker store it’s a curator of culture. By bringing Salomon into their lineup, Archive continues their quest of making greatness accessible. They’ve built a platform where local sneakerheads and style kids can touch, feel, and own the kind of pieces they used to only see in editorials or Instagram reels.
Salomon’s arrival at Archive feels like a shift like South Africa’s sneaker scene has finally been invited to the global table, not as spectators but as contributors. To mark the moment, Archive didn’t just drop the collection they threw an experience in Cape Town that blurred the line between retail and culture. At the Salomon event they had a live Yo-Mzansi podcast unpacking Salomon’s story, a customisation booth by Samurai Farai, and a crowd that looked like the future of African streetwear effortlessly mixing technical outerwear with bold local energy. It was less of a launch and more of a love letter to how far the scene has come.
There’s something poetic about it a brand born in the mountains now finding its footing in the Mother City, among artists, stylists, and sneaker lovers who speak fashion as fluently as they breathe.
Salomon’s story proves that performance and style aren’t opposites they’re partners. And in South Africa, Archive is the one making sure we get to live that truth. From rugged trail DNA to runway-ready drip, Salomon represents movement literally and culturally.
Because whether you’re hiking through life or the city, one thing’s clear; the peak of style isn’t at the summit it’s at Archive.
