The North Face
VF Corporation · United States
The North Face is an American outdoor apparel, footwear and equipment brand founded in San Francisco in the 1960s and owned by VF Corporation since 2000. It is VF's largest brand and one of the best known outdoor labels in the world, bridging technical mountain gear and streetwear.
| Founded | 1966, San Francisco |
|---|---|
| Founders | Douglas Tompkins, Susie Tompkins Buell |
| Owner | VF Corporation (since 2000) |
| Headquarters | Denver, Colorado, United States |
| Segment | Outdoor apparel, footwear and equipment |
| Website | thenorthface.com |
What is The North Face?
The North Face is an outdoor brand that designs clothing, footwear, backpacks, tents and sleeping bags. The company says its mission has been unchanged since 1966: to provide the best gear for athletes and modern explorers, to support the preservation of the outdoors and to inspire exploration. It is headquartered in Denver, Colorado, where it moved in 2020 from Alameda, California.
History
The brand was started in San Francisco by Douglas Tompkins and Susie Tompkins Buell as a climbing and backpacking shop. Tompkins sold the business in the late 1960s to Kenneth "Hap" Klopp, under whom it grew into a manufacturer of technical equipment and outerwear. In 2000 VF Corporation acquired the company, which has since become the group's largest brand.
Products and positioning
The North Face sits in the premium segment of the outdoor market. Its range covers:
- Jackets, fleece and insulated outerwear for men, women and children
- The Summit Series for alpine and expedition use
- Hiking and trail running footwear
- Backpacks, tents and sleeping bags
The brand develops its own material technologies, including FUTURELIGHT, DryVent, FUTUREFLEECE and VECTIV. Many of its jackets have also become fixtures of urban and streetwear style, and the brand regularly works on collaborations with fashion labels.
Business model and distribution
The North Face sells through outdoor specialists, sporting goods chains and department stores, as well as its own stores and e-commerce. It runs the XPLR Pass loyalty programme and Renewed, a resale platform for refurbished products. In VF's fiscal year ended March 2026, the brand's fourth quarter revenue grew 12 per cent, according to FashionUnited's report on VF's results, at a time when VF has divested Supreme and Dickies to focus on its core outdoor and active brands.
Why it matters
The North Face is a reference point for how a technical outdoor brand can achieve mass fashion relevance without losing its performance credentials. Its role as the growth engine of VF Corporation, which is led by chief executive Bracken Darrell since 2023, makes it central to one of the largest turnarounds in the sportswear industry.
Frequently asked questions
Who owns The North Face?
The North Face is owned by VF Corporation, which acquired it in 2000. VF also owns Vans and Timberland and is led by chief executive Bracken Darrell.
Is The North Face a luxury brand?
The North Face is a premium outdoor brand rather than a luxury house. Its prices sit above mass sportswear, and it has gained fashion credibility through streetwear popularity and collaborations with designer labels.
