10In mid-February, this year’s highly anticipated branded outdoor event — “Leaves Accompany Me” ·2012 Lafumathe large-scale mountaineering-themed series of activities — finally came to a successful conclusion after nearly7four months of intense competition.LafumaIt accompanied participants to four famous mountains across China: Ling Mountain, the highest peak in Beijing; Changbai Mountain in Jilin, known as the “Roof of the Northeast”; Taibai Mountain in Shaanxi, hailed as the “Hundred-Faced Beauty”; and Mount Siguniang in Sichuan, dubbed the “Alps of the East.” Hikers traversed several nationally renowned classic outdoor routes. Contestants from the four competition zones showcased their talents through preliminary selections, advancement rounds, offline events, and online showcases — truly a case of everyone bringing their unique strengths to the table. 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 battle-hardened fan favorite “Midnight Sunshine”; and the low-key, composed practitioner “Go With the Flow”! Along the way, they left behind numerous beautiful memories and unforgettable stories, and these remarkable journeys remain vividly etched in our minds. Then, over the course of10the22th, the entire event also welcomed its grand finale — the romantic French outdoor journey to the "Homeland of Leaves." The group traveled to France to begin the long-awaited "Leaf-Seeking Journey."
The trip lasted seven days, taking participants fromLafumathe HomelandAnneyron(Annecy) to the global outdoor meccaChamonix(Chamonix), and then to the fashion capitalParis(Paris), collectively experiencingLafuma's brand charm and legendary history, the majestic beauty of the Alps, Europe’s traditional outdoor culture, and the uniquely romantic and fashionable atmosphere of France. The entire event was hosted byLafumabrand, co-organized by the Chamonix Tourism Bureau of France, and also invited well-known media from both inside and outside the industry such as 《Outdoor》, 《China Geographic》, 《New Traveler》, and 《World》 to collaborate and join the trip. Additionally, the "Travel Satellite TV" program 《Walker》 was specially invited to film the entire journey, capturing the exciting moments along the way.
Impressions of France — Elegant European Charm
10On the morning of the22th, the group, filled with excitement and anticipation, boarded a flight to the "Homeland of Leaves" — France. After a layover at Paris Charles de Gaulle Airport, they arrived at their destination — France’s second-largest city5pm local time. Upon leaving the airport, they were immediately immersed in the rich French ambiance. "France, here we come!" The champions could hardly contain their excitement upon arriving in France. That evening,Lyon(Lyon) — atLafumathe organizers specially prepared a warm welcome dinner. Wine paired with delicious cuisine, the tasty French meal whetted everyone’s appetite and warmed both body and soul after a long day of travel.
VisitingLafumaHeadquarters — Exploring the Homeland of Leaves
The next morning, the entire group took aLafumaspecially arranged car from the brand’s headquarters to its birthplaceAnneyron(Annecy, a one-and-a-half-hour drive from Lyon) to embark on the ultimate "Leaf-Seeking Journey." By visiting the French headquarters, they gained an in-depth understanding of1two and a half hours of driving), they embarked on the ultimate “Leaf Quest,” gaining an in-depth understanding by visiting the French headquarters.Lafumabrand’s82years of legendary history. What amazed everyone was thatLafumabrand has been...1930Since its establishment over the years, the headquarters has undergone almost no major changes, and even the name of the street it's on was given only gradually afterward.
1930
A group of people atLafumathe French market directorRaphaUnder the warm reception of Mr. [Name] and others, they visited the historical archives room, product workshop, lounge chair factory, R&D center, and sample display room. In the historical archives room,VieuxMr. [Name] showcasedLafumathe brand’s classic products from its history, including the original design of the4backpack model from the 1940s and 1950s. Made of pure leather paired with thick canvas, it exuded a strong sense of antiquity, instantly transporting everyone back intoLafumathe long river of history. The product department manager,Yann LegalMr. [Name], used one of the40era’s backpacks as an example to explain the innovative technology of the time—the metal frame backpack suspension system. This is also the origin of various modern high-tech backpack suspension systems. Members excitedly competed to try on the backpack, eager to experience this historically significant piece. “It’s very light, more comfortable than I expected, the fit on the back is well-designed, and the pure leather shoulder straps give a very natural and friendly feel,” said the North China regional champion “Noon Sunshine” while trying it on.This1936model developed inTYROLIEN[year] was the world’s first backpack to use a metal frame, marking the birth of an epoch-making product at the time. Later, this technology was highly praised by the French military and adopted for military use during World War II. It was precisely because of this thatLafumathe brand gained worldwide fame.
Legal[year] was then introduced. Mr. [Name] also took out a seemingly dusty little booklet that contained records of many classic backpack models from history. Each page radiated a strong sense of historical weight. Although the French text couldn’t be understood, the layout clearly conveyed that as early as70many decades ago,Lafumahad already achieved a high level of maturity in the development and explanation of backpack functionality.
LafumaSome content from the backpack history booklet
Just like the modest exterior of the headquarters, the product workshop is equally neat and orderly. Here, the person in charge,Yannick LetiecMr. [Name], introducedLafumathe brand’s mature modern equipment and manufacturing techniques. Getting an up-close look at the 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 the process of being made and examined them closely, realizing that the waterproof jackets they wear are the result of many rounds of research, production, and refinement before finally making it to market.