Quechua (brand)
| File:Quechua logo.svg | |
| Industry | Mountaineering, hiking, climbing, Nordic skiing |
|---|---|
| Founded | 1997 Domancy, France |
| Headquarters | , France |
Key people | Christian Ollier (International Manager) |
| Products | Mountain sports products |
Number of employees | 150 |
| Parent | Decathlon |
| Website | www.quechua.com |
Quechua (, or ; ) represents the French brand specializing in hiking and camping gear and clothing, predominantly distributed by Decathlon.
History
Established in 1997 by a group of nine Decathlon staff members in Domancy, France, Quechua introduced its initial range of hiking and camping equipment in 1998 through Decathlon outlets. The brand's research and development center is situated in Sallanches, close to Mont Blanc. Its designation draws inspiration from the native Quechua people inhabiting the Andes region.
By 2002, Quechua had initiated its first Technical Partnership agreements, and within a year, it ranked among the top ten worldwide mountain gear brands. The company also began publishing a customer magazine, originally titled Chullanka before being renamed Quechua Magazine.
Awards and recognition
The brand has been honored with numerous design awards, including two IF Design Awards alongside the Industrial Design Excellence Award (IDEA) for its pioneering 2seconds instant tent. Between 2007 and 2008, Quechua secured several IF Design Awards for products like the Forclaz 900 jacket, Arpenaz 700 footwear, 2seconds Air tent, "All in One Sleeping Bag," SSV Forclaz, and Bionassay 500 jacket.
Technical partnership
Quechua maintains collaborations with mountain guides, national youth mountaineering squads, and the Ifremmont Institute of Mountain Medical Research. The brand consults experts in hiking (Hélène Rochas, Grégory Vollet, Vincent Delebarre, Dachhiri Sherpa), climbing (David Caude), and adventure racing (Quechua Team).