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 the 1970s, the company also began to sponsor numerous expeditions to untouched, particularly remote regions of the world. This activity, which continues to this day, gave rise to the brand motto "Never Stop Exploring", which 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. 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 this fortune 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 further areas in the following years. The inspiration for his environmental philosophy comes from the environmental protectionist Arne Næss from Norway, and Tompkins hopes that many wealthy people will follow his example.

Innovation and quality

40 years after its foundation, the company itself has paved the way for numerous innovations that have proven to be the standard today. Constant further 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 skiing clothing, backpacks, shoes, sleeping bags and tents. This is another reason why some of the best mountain sports enthusiasts, climbers, velcros, runners, snowboarders and extreme skiers trust 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 pushing the boundaries in the future, opening doors for athletes and accompanying them to their own limits and beyond.