10In mid-October, the highly anticipated brand-themed outdoor event of the year — “Leaves Accompany Me” ·2012 Lafumathe grand mountaineering season series — after nearly7months of intense competition, has finally concluded successfully.LafumaIt took everyone through four renowned peaks in China: Beijing’s highest peak, Ling Mountain; the “Roof of the Northeast,” Changbai Mountain in Jilin; the “Hundred-Faced Beauty,” Taibai Mountain in Shaanxi; and the “Alps of the East,” Siguniang Mountain in Sichuan, as well as trekking through several nationally acclaimed classic outdoor routes. Contestants from the four competition zones showcased their talents through preliminary selections, advancement rounds, offline events, and online displays — truly a dazzling display of diverse skills. In the end, four champions emerged victorious: the handsome team leader well-versed in outdoor gear, “Noon Sunshine”; the commanding and capable leader, “Infinity”; the ever-victorious crowd favorite, “Midnight Sunshine”; and the low-key, composed practitioner, “Go With the Flow.” Along the way, they left behind numerous wonderful memories and unforgettable stories, all of which remain vividly etched in our minds. And then, on10the22, the grand finale of the entire event — the romantic French outdoor journey to the “Homeland of Leaves” — commenced as the group traveled to France to begin the long-awaited “Leaf-Seeking Journey.”
The trip lasted seven days, taking participants from theLafumaHomelandAnneyron(Annecy) to the global outdoor meccaChamonix(Chamonix), and then to the fashion capitalParis(Paris), where they experienced together theLafumabrand’s charm and legendary history, the majestic beauty of the Alps, Europe’s traditional outdoor culture, and the unique romance and style of France. The entire event was hosted by theLafumabrand, co-organized by the Chamonix Tourism Bureau of France, and supported by well-known media outlets inside and outside the industry such as 《Outdoor》, 《China Geographic》, 《New Traveler》, and 《World》, who joined hands in the journey. Additionally, the “Travel Satellite TV” program 《Walker》 was specially invited to film the entire event, capturing its exciting moments.
Impressions of France: Elegant European Charm
10On the morning of the22th, the group, filled with excitement and anticipation, boarded a flight bound for the “Homeland of Leaves” — France. After a layover at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, they arrived at their destination — France’s second-largest city,5pm local time. Upon exiting the airport, they were immediately immersed in the rich ambiance of French culture. “France, here we come!” the champions could hardly contain their excitement upon arriving in France. That evening, theLyon(Lyon) — atLafumaorganizers prepared a warm welcome dinner for everyone. Wine paired with delicious cuisine, the delightful French meal whetted everyone’s appetite and provided a comforting warmth after a long day of travel.
Stepping into theLafumaHeadquarters: Unveiling the Homeland of Leaves
The next morning, the entire group took aLafumaprivate car arranged by the brand’s French headquarters to its birthplace,Anneyron(Annecy, a one-hour-and-a-half drive from Lyon), to embark on the ultimate “Leaf-Seeking Journey.” By visiting the French headquarters, they gained an in-depth understanding of the1a half-day drive), embark on the ultimate “leaf-hunting journey” by visiting the French headquarters to gain an in-depth understandingLafumabrand’s82-year legendary history. What astonished everyone was that theLafumabrand, since its establishment in1930Since its establishment over the years, the headquarters has hardly undergone any significant changes — even the name of the street it’s on was only assigned gradually afterward.
1930and2012year'sLafumacomparison photos of the French headquarters entrance
A group of people, under the warm reception of the French Marketing Director,LafumaMr.Rapha?l VIEUXand others, visited the historical archive room, product workshop, lounge chair factory, R&D center, and sample showroom. In the historical archive room,VieuxMr.Lafumashowcased classic products from the brand’s history, including the original version of a4backpack model from the 1940s and 1950s. Made with pure leather and thick canvas, it exuded a strong sense of antiquity, instantly transporting everyone back intoLafumathe long river of history. The product department manager,Yann LegalMr.40s as an example to explain the innovative technology of the time — the metal frame backpack suspension system. This is actually the origin of all kinds of modern technical backpack suspension systems. Members were also excited to try it on, each wanting to experience this historically significant backpack. “It’s very light, more comfortable than I expected. The fit on the back is great, and the pure leather shoulder straps give off a very natural and friendly feel,” said the North China division champion “Noon Sunshine” as he tried it on.This1936-developedTYROLIENbackpack was the world’s first to use a metal frame, marking the birth of a groundbreaking product at the time. Later, this technology was highly praised by the French military and adopted for military use during World War II. It is precisely because of this thatLafumagained worldwide fame.
1936sLafuma TYROLIENbackpack from the
LegalMr. then took out a seemingly long-dusted booklet that documented many historic classic backpack models, with every page radiating a strong sense of historical weight. Although they couldn’t understand the French text, the layout design clearly conveyed that as early as over70years ago,Lafumahad already achieved a high level of maturity in the development and explanation of backpack functionality.
LafumaPartial content from the backpack history booklet
Just like the simple and elegant appearance of the headquarters, the product workshop is equally clean and orderly. Here, the person in charge,Yannick LetiecMr., introduced the mature modern equipment and manufacturing processes. Getting a close look at the fully automatic computerized cutting machines,LafumaMature modern equipment and production techniques. Get an up-close look at fully automatic computerized cutting machines,Gore-texthe sewing of waterproof jackets, and the functional development of backpacks, the champions were full of curiosity. They picked up garments in production to examine them closely, realizing that the waterproof jackets they wear are the result of many rounds of research, production, and refinement before finally being launched.