What are the roots of the XT series? We asked the "inside man" about it.
Huynem: By the way, Salomon has various models such as the XT-4, XT-6, and XT-Whisper, but I think the differences between each model and the background of their birth are surprisingly little known.
Kojima: I agree. That is why we have invited a special guest this time. Mr. Thibault Mercier from "Salomon.
Tibor: Hello. My name is Thibault. I am the manager of Salomon Sportstyle.
PROFILE
Salomon Sportstyle Manager. Born in Annecy, France, where the brand was founded and is still headquartered today. He came to Japan after working at the headquarters in Annecy. He is an active person who loves skiing and trail running.
Kojima: To begin with, how did the XT series come about?
Thibault: Originally, "Salomon" was a ski brand, but in the 1990s, it expanded into the outdoor field. The origin of its footwear was the development of hiking shoes by applying the technology of ski boots.
Kojima: That was the start.
Thibault: In the 2000s, the lightness and instantaneous power of the product made it a favorite of trail runners and adventure racers.
Kojima: Oh. I see.
Thibault: Here are some shoes from the archives that are essential to trace the roots of the XT series.
Successive "XT-WINGS" series. From top,
S-LAB XT-WINGS 1" (released in 2008)
S-LAB XT-WINGS 3" (released in 2010)
S-LAB XT-WINGS 4" (released in 2011)
S-LAB XT-WINGS 5" (released in 2012)
Kojima: What kind of shoes are these?
Thibault: "XT-WINGS" trail running shoes. The first model was created in 2008, and has evolved over the generations. This is the root of the XT series.
Kojima：I see. In other words, the popular "XT-4" and "XT-6" have their roots in "XT-WINGS.
Thibault: That's right. The current XT series is an update of the past "XT-WINGS" into sneakers for the modern lifestyle. For example, the "XT-4 OG" is based on the 2011 "S-LAB The "XT-WINGS 4" is based on the "XT-WINGS 4".
Kojima: It is instructive. People tend to focus on fashion, but when you learn about the background, you can see the depth of "Salomon".
--By the way, ATMOS has collaborated with Salomon several times, hasn't it?
Kojima: We collaborated for the first time in 2023 and released two models in 2024. Both received a great response.
Successive collaboration models with "Atmos.
Above "XT-6 FOR ATMOS" (April 2023)
Central "ACS + CSWP ATMOS" (October 2023)
Bottom "XT-6 GTX ATMOS "Concrete Jungle"" (December 2024)
Thibault: "ATMOS" is an integral part of Japanese sneaker culture. I hope we can continue to build a good relationship.
Kojima: My pleasure. XT-6 is not the only attractive feature of Salomon. We have a wide variety of models, and I would be happy if more people knew about them.
