The North Face

{{About|the company|the book|The North Face (novel)|other uses|North face (disambiguation)}}

{{Infobox company

| name = The North Face, Inc.

| logo = The North Face.png

| logo_size = 160px

| image = 115 Boulevard Saint-Germain, Paris (01).jpg

| image_caption = Shop in Paris

| type = Subsidiary

| genre =

| fate =

| predecessor =

| successor =

| foundation = {{start date and age|1968}} in San Francisco, California, US

| founders = {{ubl|Douglas Tompkins|Susie Tompkins Buell}}

| defunct =

| location_city = Denver, Colorado

| location_country = US

| location =

| locations =

| area_served = Worldwide

| key_people = Arne Arens, Global Brand President

| industry = {{ubl|Fashion|Retail|Sporting goods}}

| products = {{ubl|Clothing|Outdoor gear}}

| services =

| revenue =

| operating_income =

| net_income =

| owner =

| num_employees =

| parent = VF Corporation

| divisions =

| subsid =

| homepage = {{Official URL}}

| footnotes =

}}

The North Face is an American outdoor recreation products company. The North Face produces outdoor clothing, footwear, and related equipment. Founded in 1968 to supply climbers,{{cite web |url=https://www.thenorthface.com/en-us/about-us/history |title=Our History}} the company's logo{{cite web |url=https://www.famouslogos.net/north-face-logo/ |title=North Face Logo {{!}} Design, History and Evolution |website=famouslogos.net |publisher= |date= |language=en-US |access-date=October 1, 2019 |archive-date=February 1, 2017 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20170201095952/https://www.famouslogos.net/north-face-logo/ |url-status=dead}} draws inspiration from Half Dome, a distinct rock formation rising over {{convert|8,700|ft}} above sea level in Yosemite National Park.{{cite web |title=THE NORTH FACE LOGO |url=https://1000logos.net/north-face-logo/ |website=1000logos |access-date=April 21, 2023}} By the late 1990s, the label had expanded beyond outdoor enthusiasts by focusing on street couture and since the 2000s it has been regarded as a streetwear style symbol label. In 2000, it was bought by VF Corporation.{{cite web |title=The North Face |url= https://tz.youtubers.me/the-north-face/youtube-estimated-earnings/en |website=YouTubers.me |access-date=April 21, 2023}}{{cite web |title=The North Face Trademarks |url= https://www.gerbenlaw.com/trademarks/apparel/the-north-face/|website=Gerben |date=August 13, 2020 |access-date=April 21, 2023}}

History

In 1964, Douglas Tompkins and his wife, Susie Tompkins borrowed $5,000 from a bank to found The North Face, Inc., in San Francisco,{{Cite press release|url=https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/the-north-face-unveils-global-retail-strategy-with-opening-of-new-soho-location-300898509.html|title=The North Face Unveils Global Retail Strategy with Opening of New SoHo Location|last=Face|first=The North|website=www.prnewswire.com|language=en|access-date=April 22, 2020}} as a mail order and retail company, selling rock climbing and camping equipment. Tompkins designed tents that avoided a pole in the middle, by using bendable rods threaded through exterior sleeves instead. This widely copied design also increased the strength of the tent because the domed shape has much less wind resistance than a traditional pup tent for example.

On October 26, 1966, the first The North Face store opened at 308 Columbus Ave in San Francisco,

{{cite news |last1=Franklin |first1=Jonathan |title=The Freewheeling Early Days of the North Face |url=https://www.gq.com/story/doug-tompkins-excerpt |access-date=August 26, 2023 |work=GQ.com |date=August 5, 2021}}
{{cite book |last1=Franklin |first1=Jonathan |title=A Wild Idea |date=2021 |publisher=HarperCollins |isbn=978-0-06-296412-0 |language=en}}

and the band The Grateful Dead played at its grand opening.{{cite news|last1=Finz|first1=Stacey|title=Business booming for once-troubled North Face |url= http://www.sfgate.com/business/article/Business-booming-for-once-troubled-North-Face-3466174.php|access-date=December 10, 2015|via= SFGate.com |publisher=| work= San Francisco Chronicle | date=April 8, 2012}}{{cite magazine |url= http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151209-north-face-founder-death-kayak-patagonia-yvon-chouinard/ |archive-url= https://web.archive.org/web/20151212090448/http://news.nationalgeographic.com/2015/12/151209-north-face-founder-death-kayak-patagonia-yvon-chouinard/ |url-status= dead |archive-date= December 12, 2015 |title=How The North Face Founder Went From High School Dropout to Millionaire Conservationist |date=December 9, 2015 |last=Synnott |first=Mark M. |magazine=National Geographic |access-date=August 23, 2016}}

On November 14, 1967, for "Rite of Winter", Steve Miller Blues Band and Jesse Fuller played to celebrate the opening of the second store in the Old Stanford Barn,{{cite news |last1=Staiger |first1=Steve |title=Horsing around at the Palo Alto Stock Farm |url=https://www.paloaltoonline.com/weekly/morgue/spectrum/1999_Feb_17.LOOKBACK.html |access-date=August 26, 2023 |work=paloaltoonline.com}} near the Stanford Shopping Center, near Stanford University.{{cite web |title=Steve Miller Band Performance History June 1967-December 1967 (Steve Miller II) |url=https://rockprosopography101.blogspot.com/2009/08/steve-miller-band-performance-history_26.html |website=Rock Prosopography 101 |access-date=August 26, 2023 |date=August 26, 2009}}

In 1967, Tompkins sold out his stake to Kenneth "Hap" Klopp for $50,000,{{cite web |title=Profile : Kenneth (Hap) Klopp, founder of The North Face |url=http://eventuring.stage.kauffman.org/eShip/appmanager/eVenturing/eVenturingDesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=eShip_aboutTheAuthor&_nfls=false&id=Profiles%2FProfile_259.htm |website=Kauffman eVenturing |publisher=Ewing Marion Kauffman Foundation |access-date=August 26, 2023 |archive-url=https://web.archive.org/web/20080417042116/http://eventuring.stage.kauffman.org/eShip/appmanager/eVenturing/eVenturingDesktop?_nfpb=true&_pageLabel=eShip_aboutTheAuthor&_nfls=false&id=Profiles%2FProfile_259.htm |archive-date=April 17, 2008 |location=Kansas City, MO |date=2008}}

and set off on a six month road trip to climb Mount FitzRoy in the wilds of Patagonia.

Tompkins joined his wife in co-founding Esprit, a fashion house. Tompkins sold The North Face with the intention of a focus on adventure film making.{{cite news |url=https://www.washingtonpost.com/news/morning-mix/wp/2015/12/09/north-face-co-founder-turned-eco-baron-douglas-tompkins-is-killed-in-chile-kayaking-accident/?tid=ss_gp |title=North Face co-founder turned 'eco baron' Douglas Tompkins is killed in Chile kayaking accident |newspaper=The Washington Post |author=Sarah Kaplan |date=December 9, 2015 |access-date=December 9, 2015}}{{cite web| title= The North Face |work= Bruce B. Johnson's History of Gear |url= http://www.oregonphotos.com/The-North-Face-1.html| via= oregonphotos.com| date= | publisher= Bruce B. Johnson| access-date= }}

In 2000, The North Face was acquired by VF Corporation in a deal worth US$25.4 million and became a wholly owned subsidiary.{{cite web |date=April 10, 2000 |title=The North Face Acquired by VF Corp. in $25.4M Cash Deal |url=https://www.sportsbusinessdaily.com/Daily/Issues/2000/04/10/Finance/THE-NORTH-FACE-ACQUIRED-BY-VF-CORP-IN-$254M-CASH-DEAL.aspx |access-date=May 19, 2019 |work=Sports Business Daily |language=en}}{{cite web |date= |title=VF Corporation – VF in the News |url=http://www.vfc.com/news/vf-in-the-news%3Fnws_id%3D83925AE9-7D1F-F0CC-E043-A740E3EAF0CC |access-date= |website=vfc.com |publisher=VF Corporation}}

In December 2008, The North Face filed a lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Missouri against The South Butt, its creator James A. Winkelmann Jr., and a company that handled the firm's marketing and manufacturing. In the legal action, The North Face alleged trademark infringement and sought injunctive relief.{{cite web| last=Frankel |first=Todd C.| url=http://www.stltoday.com/business/the-north-face-is-suing-the-south-butt-international-clothing/article_f01545a8-383c-5bc6-9d73-fb889ae2569c.html| title=The North Face is suing The South Butt International clothing company accuses teen's Ladue-based operation of trademark infringement| publisher= | work= STLtoday.com| date=December 15, 2009| access-date=October 20, 2012}} After the court ordered mediation in the case, the parties reached a closed settlement agreement on April 1, 2010; however, in October 2012, Winkelmann admitted in court that he and his father violated the settlement agreement with The North Face and agreed to pay US$65,000, an amount that will be reduced by US$1,000 for every month of compliance.{{cite web| first= Cynthia| last=Billhartz Gregorian| url= http://www2.stltoday.com/news/local/metro/north-face-south-butt-reach-agreement/article_c096dec5-118f-526a-a9db-244c9ccb0358.html| title= North Face, South Butt reach agreement|publisher= | work= STLtoday.com| date= April 3, 2010| access-date= December 8, 2011}}{{cite web| website= courthousenews.com| url= https://www.courthousenews.com/South-Butt-ClothingFalls-Off-a-Cliff/|title= South Butt Clothing Falls Off a Cliff| publisher= Courthouse News Service| date= October 17, 2012|access-date = October 22, 2012}}

In 2019, The North Face faced consumer backlash and apologized after its marketing agency surreptitiously added photos featuring its apparel to Wikipedia articles on popular outdoor destinations.{{cite news |last1=Mervosh |first1=Sarah |title=North Face Apologizes for Adding Its Own Photos to Wikipedia to Promote Its Brand |url= https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/30/business/north-face-wikipedia-leo-burnett.html |access-date=November 3, 2020 |work=The New York Times |issn=0362-4331 |date=May 30, 2019 |archive-url=https://archive.today/20190530191225/https://www.nytimes.com/2019/05/30/business/north-face-wikipedia-leo-burnett.html |archive-date=May 30, 2019 |url-status=live}}{{cbignore|bot=InternetArchiveBot}}{{Cite news |last=Harrison |first=Stephen |date=2019-06-14 |title=How Should Wikipedia Cover When Brands Manipulate Wikipedia? |url=https://slate.com/technology/2019/06/north-fake-wikipedia-image.html |access-date=2025-03-12 |work=Slate |language=en-US |issn=1091-2339}}

The company was previously headquartered in Alameda, California, co-located with its corporate sibling, JanSport.{{cite news| last= Horovitz| first= Bruce| date=August 20, 2007|title=New 'badge' of cool: High-tech, high-fashion backpacks|page=1A|work=USA Today| url= https://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2007-08-19-backpack_N.htm|access-date=September 1, 2009}} In 2020, the company's headquarters relocated to Denver, Colorado.{{Cite web|last= | first= |date= August 13, 2018 |title= VF Corp. To Split Into Two Independent, Publicly Traded Companies |url= https://sgbonline.com/vf-corp-to-split-into-two-independent-publicly-traded-companies/ |website= SGBOnline.com| publisher= SGB Media| access-date= March 14, 2022}}

A credential stuffing attack against The North Face's website began on July 26, 2022. However, the administrators of the website discovered the "unusual activity" on August 11 and were able to stop it by August 19. The breach compromised 194,905 customer accounts.{{Cite web |author1=Mike Moore |date=September 8, 2022 |title=Thousands of North Face customers accounts hacked, personal data stolen |url=https://www.techradar.com/news/thousands-of-north-face-customers-accounts-hacked-personal-data-stolen |access-date=September 14, 2022 |website=TechRadar |language=en}}

In March 2024, The North Face began offering a 20% discount to customers who watch a four-part, one-hour "racial inclusion" course, titled the "Allyship in the Outdoors" programme which aims to "foster a deeper understanding of the unique challenges that people of colour face when accessing the outdoors".{{cite news | url=https://www.itv.com/news/2024-03-06/the-north-face-offers-20-discount-if-you-complete-racial-inclusion-course | title =The North Face offers 20% discount if you complete 'racial inclusion' course | work = ITV | date = March 6, 2024 | access-date=March 25, 2024}} The questionnaire covers topics such as white privilege, acknowledging "lived experiences", and different types of racism. The course begins by asking the customer "How many people of color do you see on the slopes, on the hills, or on the trails?", and at the end asks the customer to become an ally to their cause. The company faced a backlash from right-wing commentators who accused the program of being "woke capitalism at its worst".{{cite news | url=https://fortune.com/2024/03/05/the-north-face-offer-20-off-racial-inclusion-course/ | title=Gen Z–approved clothing giant The North Face is offering customers 20% off if they take a racial inclusion course | work=Fortune | date = March 5, 2024 | access-date = March 25, 2024}}

Fashion

By 1997, purchasers of North Face attire had expanded beyond those looking for technical clothing for skiing, climbing, and other outdoor pursuits to rappers in New York City, but remained only a small part of the company's business.{{cite news|url=https://www.nytimes.com/1997/03/09/style/geared-for-the-grocery-or-mount-everest.html|title=Geared for the Grocery, or Mount Everest|last=Szabo|first=Julia|date=March 9, 1997|work=The New York Times|access-date=May 30, 2019}}

In 2005, wearers of the North Face attire became the targets of robbery in Prince George's County, Maryland.{{cite news|url=http://www.washtimes.com/metro/20050214-104619-4377r.htm|title=Suspects nabbed in jacket, car robberies|date=February 14, 2005|newspaper=The Washington Times|pages=2}}{{Cite web|url=https://www.thecut.com/2018/10/the-north-face-new-york-style.html|title=How The North Face Took Over '90s New York|last=Takanashi|first=Lei|date=October 31, 2018|website=The Cut|language=en|access-date=May 31, 2019}} A similar trend occurred in South Korea in the early 2010s where it became a status symbol, resulting in children being bullied or having their North Face apparel stolen.{{Cite web|url=https://latimesblogs.latimes.com/world_now/2012/01/south-korea-teenagers-north-face-fashion-fad-bullying.html|title=In South Korea, North Face jackets tied to wave of bullying, theft|last=Jung-yoon|first=Choi|date=January 16, 2012|website=LA Times Blogs – World Now|language=en-US|access-date=May 31, 2019}}