These days, I can’t seem to walk the streets of New York City without spotting at least one pair of Salomons. (Not to mention, I saw them on countless stylish Londoners during a recent trip across the pond.) The French footwear brand’s outdoorsy shoes have become an everyday favorite amongst the same demographic who previously helped Sambas skyrocket in popularity.
Over the past few years, influencers and A-listers like Emily Ratajowski, Hailey Bieber, Kylie Jenner, and Bella Hadid have all been seen wearing Salomons. The sporty shoes have even become fodder for Instagram moodboard accounts like Salmonology, which has amassed 144,000 followers since launching in 2020, as well as numerous designer collaborations. Most recently in January, Sandy Liang dropped her third collab with the label—a now sold-out, pink-tinged take on Salomon’s archival XT-Whisper.
Founded as a metal workshop in 1947 out of Annecy, France, Salomon became a leader in ski and hiking gear by the late ‘90s and 2000s, then infiltrated the style set by launching its Sportstyle category in 2018. Designed to meet the demands of both urban and outdoor lifestyles, the line reimagines the brand’s classic trail running shoes—boasting signature details like Quicklace closures and rugged Contragrip outsoles—in elevated colorways and finishes.
Sportstyle really took off, however, when Rihanna donned a pair of XT-6s on her Instagram in 2019. Then, in February 2023, the singer propelled the brand to cult status after wearing a pair of MM6 Maison Margiela x Salomon Cross Lows during her Super Bowl performance. According to Business of Fashion, Google searches for the style surged by 4,000 percent overnight.
Rihanna performing at the 2023 Super Bowl.
Just a month earlier, Salomon was named the fastest growing sneaker brand on streetwear resale platform StockX—thanks to its increasing celebrity and designer endorsements and a booming post-Covid demand for outdoor gear.
Fast forward to 2025, and the Salomon sneaker takeover shows no signs of slowing down. These sleek performance styles strike the perfect balance of being bold yet not overly flashy. In fact, they’re surprisingly versatile, whether styled with your go-to leggings and a sports bra or a tailored set for a cool contrast. (I’ve worn my XT-6s practically everywhere, from a camping trip in Sequoia National Park to numerous New York Fashion Week events, and can confirm they’re one of my favorite sneakers in my closet).
An attendee of Copenhagen Fashion Week Spring/Summer 2024.
Though not quite as affordable as the Sambas, most silhouettes from the brand’s coveted Sportstyle line top out at a reasonable $220—which is still hundreds less than most of fashion’s favorite “it” shoes. Silhouettes never remain in stock for long, so grab your favorites ASAP before someone else beats you to them.
This post was originally published on this site be sure to check out more of their content.
