The North Face

The North Face, founded in 1966 by Douglas Tompkins in the USA, is now a leading global brand for outdoor clothing. The fascinating story begins with a retail store for mountain sports and extreme climbing equipment in North Beach, San Francisco. Two years later, Kenneth Klopp took over the company and moved it to Berkeley, where he produced the first in-house products under The North Face brand name.

Origin and expansion

In addition, the company began sponsoring numerous expeditions to unspoilt, particularly remote regions of the world in the 1970s. The brand motto «Never Stop Exploring» was born out of this activity, which continues to this day and proudly expresses the tradition established during these years. The company name itself also matches the ambitious motto: The name The North Face refers to the north face of a mountain. The north face is considered extremely challenging and particularly icy by mountain sports enthusiasts. Choosing this difficult route means having to face a variety of challenges on the way to the summit. Last but not least, the same theme is also reflected in The North Face logo, which abstractly depicts the iconic silhouette of Half Dome in California's Yosemite National Park.

Environmental commitment and philanthropy

In 1990, company founder Douglas Tompkins sold his shares in the company. Since then, he has used these assets to acquire extensive areas in the Patagonia region of southern Argentina and Chile, which he intends to convert into national parks. In addition, Tompkins bought the Reñihué Ranch in Chile in 1991 in order to protect this rainforest area. Together with the environmental foundation The Conservation Land Trust from the USA, Tompkins acquired more land in the following years. The inspiration for his environmental philosophy comes from the environmentalist Arne Næss from Norway, and Tompkins also hopes that many wealthy people will follow his example.

Innovation and quality

Now, 40 years after its foundation, the company itself has paved the way for numerous innovations that have proven to be the standard today. Continuous development and pushing technological boundaries are also among The North Face's goals. To this end, the company invests in extensive development and research work. In addition, The North Face athlete team is constantly gathering new experiences in practice. All this knowledge is incorporated into the extensive product range of highly functional outdoor and ski clothing, rucksacks, shoes, camping tents and sleeping bags. This is another reason why some of the best mountain sports enthusiasts, velcro climbers, runners, snowboarders and extreme skiers trust in the reliable quality of the high-quality products. Last but not least, The North Face promises to remain true to its traditional motto «Never Stop Exploring» and to continue to push the boundaries in the future, opening doors for athletes and accompanying them to their own limits and beyond.