Sun Valley: French-style skiwear, bridging the sea and the mountains since 1983

Discover the Sun Valley brand

Sun Valley: The Brand’s Origins and History

Sun Valley was founded in Marseille in the early 1980s. Originally, two brothers, Édouard and Gilles Terzibachian, united by their passion for mogul skiing, decided to create their own clothing brand inspired by this discipline straight from Sun Valley, USA. The adventure officially began in 1983 with the creation of their first ski suits, designed according to values that would remain the brand’s guiding principles: a passion for the mountains, a desire for freedom, and harmony with the environment.

The brand quickly established itself on the French market, notably through partnerships with sporting events, with its brightly colored ski suits becoming a recognizable signature on the slopes.

Starting in 1986, Sun Valley expanded its offerings to include surfwear, driven by the values of travel and freedom, becoming, among other things, a partner of the Biarritz Surf Festival and the official sponsor of the French National Beach Volleyball Team.

In the mid-1990s, the two founders returned to their original passion, skiing, just as the market was experiencing a resurgence of interest with the rise of parabolic skis. The new skiwear collection, featuring technical innovations including the Gore-Tex® membrane, marked a decisive turning point for Sun Valley.

Did you know?

The name Sun Valley is directly inspired by the famous American ski resort of the same name, the birthplace of the sport that gave rise to the brand.

Sports Development and Partnerships at Sun Valley

In 2004, Sun Valley reached a symbolic milestone by becoming an official partner of the French National Mogul Ski Team, thereby elevating the brand to the highest level of the sport. This was also the time when “Team Sun Valley” was formed, comprising more than 17 members including Seb Michaud, David Allemoz, and Julien Ruffier, pioneers of freeride.

The team then embarked on a series of expeditions to the four corners of the globe: Canada, Alaska, Kamchatka, Iran, Morocco, Japan, and even India. These “Ski Trips”*, documented in photos, illustrate the brand’s philosophy, encapsulated in its slogan “Created for Freedom© ”*, adopted in 2010.

Today, Sun Valley continues to outfit elite athletes, including Ben Cavet, Nils Allegre, Marielle Berger-Sabbatel, and Alizée Baron.

Products offered by the Sun Valley brand

Sun Valley offers two complementary lines: technical skiwear and lifestyle sportswear.

Its skiwear collection includes ski jackets, ski pants (including leggings and overalls for women), as well as thermal clothing such as ski fleeces and technical base layers. The pieces are designed to meet the demands of on-mountain activity, featuring technologies like the Gore-Tex® membrane integrated into several models.

On the sportswear side, the range is extensive: T-shirts, polo shirts, dress shirts, sweaters, fleeces, sweatshirts, down jackets, jackets, pants, shorts, Bermuda shorts, swimwear, as well as a selection of accessories (hats, caps, scarves, gloves, bags). The brand releases its collections in limited-edition capsule collections, such as the Urban Free capsule, organized around complementary colors so that every piece matches.

Sun Valley’s Commitments and Values

Since its founding, Sun Valley has built its identity around two core values: exploration and sharing. Exploration is in the brand’s DNA, embodied by its early expeditions on slopes around the world. Sharing is reflected in long-term partnerships with sports teams and institutions.

Thus, the brand directs its actions toward a vision: Created for Freedom©.

* Created for Freedom = Created for Freedom

* Ski Trips = Ski trips