1930 - Creation of the company by 3 brothers: Victor, Alfred and Gabriel Lafuma. Through their skills in tanning and saddlery, they launched the manufacture and marketing of all types of bags and sacs, including the backpack.

 

1936 - Invention of the modern backpack with a metallic frame, coinciding with the introduction of paid holidays. The “LAFUMA” brand is born.

 

1954 - Creation of a camping furniture line, met with immediate success as it coincided with an increase in leisure and automobiles.

 

1970’s - Growth and the beginning of international business.

 

1985 - LAFUMA launches it’s school bag range.

 

1980’s - New generation at the head of the company, and a strategic decision to develop a complete range of hiking products based around the backpack. Creation of a manufacturing subsidiary in Tunisia, which today employs 221 people.

 

1987 - First opening up of capital to new investors - AXA and SIPAREX.

 

1988 - Creation of the LAFUMA USA subsidiary.

 

1989 - Creation of the LAFUMA Hong Kong subsidiary, in charge of both sourcing and sales in Asia.

 

1992 - Creation of the LAFUMA Hungary subsidiary specialised in the manufacture of technical clothing in Sarvar, which today employs 230 people.

 

1994 - Merger through the absorption of the company LAFUMA by TENSING DEVELOPPEMENT (a holding company which held 54.16% of the capital stock of LAFUMA S.A.). The new entity took the name of LAFUMA S.A.

 

1995 - Takeover of the companies MILLET, and LE CHAMEAU.

 

1997 - In May, LAFUMA S.A. was listed on the second-tier Paris stock exchange. In September it took over the company « RIVORY ET JOANNY » (mountaineering ropes), and merged it with MILLET.

 

1998  - Takeover of the company LA DUNOISE to launch a textile collection under the LE CHAMEAU brand.

 

1999 - Opening of the first LAFUMA flagship store in Hong Kong.

 

2000  - Opening of LAFUMA stores in Nice and Lyon.

 

2001 - Takeover of Lallemand, a company specialized in aluminium camping furniture and the manufacture of plastic units.

 

2002 - Takeover of « BIG PACK », a German outdoor equipment specialist.

 

2003  - Takeover of the MILLET licensee’s business activity in Japan, which was then integrated into a new subsidiary created to market group brands in that territory.

 

2004  - Takeover of the jean manufacturer « OBER » in response to a market trend for a demand in more casual clothing. Licensing agreement with the LG Group in South Korea.

 

2005  - Creation of the « Boardsports » division with the takeover of OXBOW. Opening of a LAFUMA flagship store in Chamonix.

 

2006  - Takeover of the company GEORG SCHUMACHER to strengthen the riding offering of LE CHAMEAU. Equity capital raised through the issue of shares on the stock exchange, representing a capital increase of €25 million. Takeover of BISHOES, specialized in upmarket flip-flops. This company was integrated into OXBOW. Launch of a new store concept for OXBOW with flagship store openings at Parly 2 and in Chamonix. The first MILLET stores opened at the French ski resort Val d’Isère, and in South Korea.

 

2007 - The opening of stores in symbolic locations: Paris for Lafuma, Biarritz, Hossegor, Bordeaux and Chamonix for Oxbow, Tokyo and Chamonix for Millet.

A good start-up for the Lafuma and Oxbow e-business websites.

 

2008 - Takeover of Eider which reinforces the Mountain division.

Opening of a Le Chameau store in Paris

 

2009 - Sale of the trademarks Lafuma, Millet and Eider in South Korea

Launch of the Eider internet site

Capital increase of 10 million euros