Quechua is a mountain sports brand founded in 1997 in Domancy, France, producing Hiking, Trail running, Adventure racing, Climbing and Mountaineering apparel and equipment and is sold in every store of Decathlon Group and sportswear shops. It currently employs about 150 persons. The name comes from the Quechua language, an indigenous language of South America.
- 1997 : The Quechua company starts in a three room flat in Sallanches (74700) with the formulation of the brand's development. The trademark is made official worldwide, following recruitment products development.
- 1999 : Opening of the International Headquarters in Domancy, very close to the Mont Blanc, nearest of users.
- 2002 : The first Technical Partnership contracts are signed. Some big names disciplines flagship Quechua, lending their expertise in developing high-quality products. The brand passes field testing.
- 2003 : The 6 year old Quechua company joins the Top 10 largest global brands in mountain gear with comparable scope of activity. The brand fabric its teams of designers, as well as engineering and prototyping. Publication of the first consumer magazine, covering every mountain topic. At that time its name is Chullanka (snowed summit in Quechua language). The name changes to Quechua Magazine for the seventh issue.
- 2005 : The 2 seconds tent's release puts Quechua in the innovation spotlight.
- 2006 : Quechua wins two IF Design Award.[3] The 2 seconds Tent wins the Industrial Design Excellence Awards (IDEA) for the innovation of instant tent.[4]
- 2007 : At the 10 year mark the company employs 100 persons at its premises Domancy, the brand itself. 80% of employees are involved in the design, development, supply or marketing of products ... Quechua wins 3 IF Design Awards for the Forclaz 900 jacket, Arpenaz 700 lady shoes and the 2seconds Air tent;[5]
- 2008 : Quechua wins 3 IF Design Awards for the "All in One Sleeping Bag", the SSV Forclaz and the Bionassay 500 jacket.[6]
Technical partnership[edit]
Quechua has partnerships with many groups, such as mountain guides, national team of young mountaineers and the Ifremmont Institute of Mountain Medical Research (fr). It works with advisers in hiking (Hélène Rochas, Grégory Vollet, Vincent Delebarre, Dawa Dachhiri Sherpa), climbing (David Caude) and adventure racing (Quechua Team).
In popular culture[edit]
Quechua wear is quite popular among sympathisers of the Basque and Catalan pro-independence movements. Mountain wear is related in these circles to the idea of mountain sports as a freedom activity, and the mountains as a traditional place for resistance against the Spanish state.
References[edit]
- ^ "Discover the brand" - Quechua official site, 2012-05-27
- ^ [1]
- ^ Site des IF Design Awards 2006
- ^ Site des IDEA Awards 2006
- ^ Site des IF Design Awards 2007
- ^ Site des IF Design Awards 2008
External links[edit]
