The North Face
| File:The North Face logo.svg Logo inspired by Half Dome in Yosemite National Park | |
| Company type | Subsidiary |
|---|---|
| Industry | Outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear |
| Founded | 1968 in San Francisco, California, United States |
| Founder | Douglas Tompkins, Susie Tompkins Buell |
| Headquarters | Denver , United States |
Area served | Worldwide |
Key people | Kenneth "Hap" Klopp (early owner) |
| Products | Outdoor apparel, footwear, gear |
| Parent | VF Corporation |
The North Face is a U.S.-based enterprise specializing in outdoor apparel, footwear, and gear. Established in 1968 by entrepreneurs Douglas Tompkins and Susie Tompkins Buell in San Francisco to cater primarily to climbers, its emblem draws inspiration from the Half Dome rock formation in Yosemite National Park. By the end of the 1990s, The North Face had broadened its appeal beyond outdoor enthusiasts to become a recognized streetwear brand and fashion icon. In 2000, VF Corporation acquired the company.
History
The North Face was founded in 1964 by Douglas Tompkins and Susie Tompkins as a mail-order and retail business focused on climbing and camping equipment. Tompkins introduced an innovative tent design featuring flexible poles that enhanced durability and wind resistance through dome-shaped structures. The brand’s inaugural store opened in San Francisco in 1966, marked by a grand opening event with The Grateful Dead performing. A second location followed near Stanford University in 1967.
In 1967, Tompkins sold his ownership share for $50,000 to Kenneth "Hap" Klopp before departing on a climbing expedition. Subsequently, Tompkins co-founded Esprit Holdings and transitioned into adventure filmmaking. The North Face was purchased by VF Corporation in 2000 for $25.4 million, becoming a fully owned subsidiary.
In 2008, The North Face initiated legal action against The South Butt for trademark infringement, culminating in a settlement and ongoing enforcement measures extending through 2012.
Formerly headquartered in Alameda, California alongside JanSport, The North Face moved its main office to Denver, Colorado in 2020 as part of VF Corporation’s organizational restructuring.
A credential stuffing cyberattack affected approximately 195,000 customer accounts in mid-2022 but was resolved within several weeks.
In March 2024, The North Face introduced a corporate program offering a 20% discount to customers who complete a "racial inclusion" training designed to promote diversity awareness within outdoor recreation. This initiative generated discussion regarding corporate involvement in sociopolitical issues.
Throughout its development, The North Face has utilized visionary leadership and product innovation to establish a strong presence in the outdoor apparel market, operating globally under the governance of VF Corporation.
Fashion
By 1997, The North Face had extended its reach beyond traditional outdoor consumers to urban demographics such as New York City residents, though this represented a smaller portion of its overall sales. In 2005, rising popularity of the brand led to increased theft incidents in Prince George's County, Maryland. Similarly, during the early 2010s in South Korea, wearing North Face apparel became a status symbol among young people, which contributed to bullying and theft occurrences. These patterns illustrate the brand’s expanding influence outside conventional outdoor markets.
See also
External links
- Articles with short description
- Pages with broken file links
- Pages using infobox company with unknown parameters
- 1968 establishments in California
- 2000 mergers and acquisitions
- 2000s fashion
- 2010s fashion
- 2020s fashion
- American companies established in 1968
- Camping equipment manufacturers
- Clothing brands of the United States
- Clothing companies established in 1966
- Companies that filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy in 1993
- Companies based in Denver
- Climbing and mountaineering equipment companies
- Outdoor clothing brands
- Shoe companies of the United States
- Sportswear brands
- VF Corporation
- 5
- Companies of the United States by year of establishment