Twenty years ago, Salomon introduced the ACS PRO silhouette, a high-performance design that went on to shape its identity far beyond the trail. Built with technical rigour and obsessive detail, the ACS PRO became rooted in sneakerhead culture, admired by people who track every drop and camp out for rare pairs. Across collaborations with KAR L’Art de l’Automobile, JAHJAH and MM6 Maison Margiela, the silhouette established itself as a design with heritage and lasting influence. For this anniversary, Salomon’s focus is on community.
Recent Salomon campaigns have signalled a shift toward storytelling that lives in real spaces and real relationships. The 20-year celebration continues that trajectory by looking at obsession as something shared. It is a campaign rooted in the idea that culture is built through repeated touchpoints, through the people who return again and again to create something meaningful.
To capture this moment, we partnered with Salomon Sportstyle to enlist London-based photographer TJ Sawyerr to celebrate the anniversary through a portrait of Lord Apex and the people who form his everyday circle. The shoot was captured in Lord Apex’s meaningful locations across Shepherd’s Bush, including Eastpoint Studios, Peckings Record Store on Askew Road and 3D Barbers. The cast, including Yeisha Tashana, Joshua Ojehonmon, Treyvon Chas Curtis-Crowl, Michael Folorunso, Dej Irv, Annie Andriamiharisoa, Fabian Henry, Wayne Caingsta, Alaba Johnson, Louis Culture and J-Magz, were not extras but collaborators, friends and family.
“Community for me means cultivating a safe ecosystem for like-minded individuals,” explains Lord Apex. “[It’s] to learn to express, share ideas, plant seeds and keep a constant energy of being motivated by the people you built it with.” That sentiment shaped the day. Naturally, photographing friends makes the process effortless. The relaxed atmosphere on set grew from that familiarity. “It didn’t really feel like work; it just felt like catching up,” he explained. Speaking on working with TJ, he added, “From our first shoot, it was an honour to work with the young legend; he’s shown me nothing but genuine love and has been the same no matter the level.” That trust translated into images grounded in authentic connection.
Community for me means cultivating a safe ecosystem for like-minded individuals
As the central component of the project, the ACS PRO remains the heart of the campaign. The 20-year anniversary edition draws inspiration from an unreleased 2005 prototype, connecting the shoe to its experimental roots. Its history spans performance design, strong cultural cachet and placement among some of the most influential creatives and communities. It has built this legacy by consistently showing up in spaces where innovation and culture intersect.
To extend the anniversary beyond imagery, Salomon Sportstyle has created immersive activations in Paris, New York, Tokyo, Mexico City, Buenos Aires, hiding unique codes in each city that unlock the chance to own the ACS PRO 20th Anniversary or another exclusive reward. The hunt mirrors the behaviour of dedicated collectors who track drops and seek rare releases, turning the anniversary into a live moment that celebrates participation and exploration.
ACS PRO 20 Years Anniversary Golden Archive
£200.00
For its 20th anniversary Salomon is releasing the limited-edition Golden Archive ACS Pro. Based on a never-before-released colorway, this model boasts a transparent chassis, carbon-textured cage and special logo. As a nod to the one-off nature of this release, each model is outfitted with a “sample” tag and commemorative gold and black shoe bag.
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The ACS PRO 20 Year Anniversary will be available globally from December 10th in Rich Old Gold, Silver Cloud, and Black.
Head to the gallery above to see all the images from the campaign.
