The North Face Fashion Story

The North Face named after the coldest, unforgiving side of a mountain. We've helped explorers reach the most elusive heights of the Himalayas. But the story of The North Face® begins, funnily enough, on the beach. To be precise, the North Beach neighborhood in San Francisco, about 45 meters above sea level. Here two hiking enthusiasts decided in 1966 to turn their passion into their job and to open a mountain sports shop.

The shop soon became known as The North Face, where you could find high-quality climbing and trekking equipment. In 1968, The North Face moved across San Francisco Bay to the unparalleled opportunities Berkeley had to offer and began designing and manufacturing its own alpine apparel and equipment.

In the 1960s, The North Face brand gained a following among active outdoor athletes and started sponsoring expeditions to the most remote, often untouched corners of the world.