The North Face facts for kids
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| Subsidiary | |
| Industry |
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| Founded | 1968 in San Francisco, California, US |
| Founders |
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| Headquarters |
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US
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Area served
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Worldwide |
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Key people
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Arne Arens, Global Brand President |
| Products |
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| Parent | VF Corporation |
The North Face is an American company that makes products for outdoor activities. They create clothing, footwear, and gear for adventures. The company started in 1968 to help climbers. Its logo is inspired by Half Dome, a famous rock in Yosemite National Park. By the late 1990s, The North Face became popular not just with outdoor lovers but also as a cool everyday fashion brand. In 2000, a company called VF Corporation bought The North Face.
Contents
The North Face Story
How The North Face Began
In 1964, Douglas Tompkins and his wife, Susie Tompkins, started a company called The North Face, Inc. in San Francisco. They borrowed money to begin. At first, they sold rock climbing and camping gear through mail order and in their store. Douglas Tompkins designed special tents. These tents did not have a pole in the middle. Instead, they used bendable rods outside. This design made the tents stronger because their dome shape let the wind roll over them. Many other companies later copied this smart design.
Opening Stores and Music
The first The North Face store opened on October 26, 1966, in San Francisco. A famous band called The Grateful Dead played music at the grand opening! Later, in November 1967, another store opened near Stanford University. Bands like the Steve Miller Blues Band and Jesse Fuller played at its opening too.
Changes in Ownership
In 1967, Douglas Tompkins sold his part of The North Face to Kenneth "Hap" Klopp. Tompkins then went on an adventure trip to climb a mountain in Patagonia. He later helped his wife start a fashion company called Esprit. Tompkins sold The North Face because he wanted to focus on making adventure films. In 2000, VF Corporation bought The North Face. It became a part of VF Corporation.
Protecting the Brand
In 2008, The North Face took legal action against a company called "The South Butt." The North Face said that "The South Butt" was too similar to their name. After some discussions, they reached an agreement.
Moving Headquarters
The North Face used to have its main office in Alameda, California. It was in the same building as another brand, JanSport. In 2020, the company moved its headquarters to Denver, Colorado.
Online Security
In 2022, The North Face's website had an online security issue. Some customer accounts were affected. The company worked quickly to stop the problem and keep customer information safe.
Community Programs
In 2024, The North Face offered a discount to customers who watched a course about being more welcoming in the outdoors. This program aimed to help people understand challenges faced by people of color when enjoying nature. It encouraged customers to become allies for a more inclusive outdoor community.
The North Face in Fashion
From Outdoors to Everyday Style
By 1997, people buying North Face clothes were not just skiers or climbers. Rappers in New York City also started wearing them. This was a small part of the business then. By the 2000s, The North Face became a popular brand for everyday fashion, known as streetwear.
Popularity and Trends
In the early 2010s, North Face clothing became a very popular status symbol in South Korea. This meant that wearing the brand showed you were cool or had money. Sometimes, this led to kids being bullied or having their North Face clothes stolen.
See also
- List of outdoor industry parent companies
Images for kids
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The North Face logo
