The North Face

The North Face is an American outdoor company founded in San Francisco in 1966 by Douglas Tompkins and Susie Tompkins Buell to supply climbers, and named after the coldest and most unforgiving side of a mountain. Its logo is drawn from Half Dome, the granite formation above Yosemite Valley.

The brand produces outerwear, footwear and equipment for mountaineering, skiing and trail running, and has belonged to VF Corporation since 2000, with headquarters in Denver, Colorado. Its research into insulated and waterproof materials has moved from pure expedition gear into technical clothing worn in cities, making it a reference point for streetwear while the company keeps outfitting athletes and expeditions under the Never Stop Exploring claim.