MM6 Expands the Boundaries of Salomon

Since beginning their collaboration in 2022, MM6 Maison Margiela and Salomon have reinterpreted functional footwear through a range of silhouettes. From knee-high boots to collaboration-exclusive models and backpacks, we look back at how the collaboration has unfolded and take a look at the newly unveiled FW26 collection.

Functional Footwear in New Silhouettes

The Cross Low and Cross High, unveiled in the FW22 season, were the early models that announced the two brands' collaboration. Combining Salomon's performance design with MM6's aesthetic, they proposed footwear that moves between urban and outdoor environments.

In September of the same year, the Cross Wader, a knee-high boot reaching up to the thigh, appeared on the runway at SS23 Milan Fashion Week. With a design combining stretch materials and a trail running outsole, it transformed the construction of functional footwear into a bold high-fashion silhouette.

In 2024, the brands presented the XT-4 Mule, reinterpreting the XT-4 trail runner as an all-gender slip-on mule. Keeping the functional foundation of the running shoe while removing the heel to change how it's worn, it broadened the range of use for existing footwear.

Expanding into Collaboration-Exclusive Models

The XT-MM6, introduced in October 2025, is a silhouette developed exclusively for the collaboration. Through a model distinct from Salomon's existing lineup, it brought the two brands' design languages together in a single product.

In the SS26 season, alongside the new Cross Dust and expanded colorways of the XT-MM6, the brands introduced the XT-15 Backpack. Its arrival is meaningful in that it marks the expansion of the collaboration from footwear into accessories.

FW26 Expands the Boundaries of Salomon

The FW26 collection, unveiled on October 19, 2026, consists of eight styles. The XT-MM6 and the Cross Derby MM6 release first on October 22, with the XT-Boot MM6 and the ACS Pro MM6 scheduled for release in November.

The XT-MM6 continues the development of the existing collaboration model with new color combinations. The Cross Derby MM6 applies a soft leather upper and a restrained black design, blurring the line between formal shoes and outdoor footwear. The XT-Boot MM6 creates a silhouette evoking protective gear with its high-top gaiter construction, while the ACS Pro MM6 emphasizes its technical design through lavender and green colorways.

What stands out is how the collection brings together products in different forms while maintaining a shared foundation of functional footwear. The progression from running shoes to mules, knee-high boots, and derby shoes shows the collaboration's design scope steadily widening.

Insights for Buyers and Retailers

The MM6 and Salomon collaboration is a case of gradually expanding silhouettes and categories while maintaining the functional codes of existing performance products. Buyers can design their assortments by distinguishing between continuously developed models like the XT-MM6 and differentiated new silhouettes like the Cross Dust and Cross Derby. Proposing footwear and backpacks together to connect the collaboration's design codes across multiple categories is also worth considering.