The North Face brand was established in 1968 by Douglas Tompkins and Kenneth Klopp in San Francisco. The two renamed a San Francisco climbing equipment retail store they'd founded two years earlier. The idea of The North Face originated after a hiking trip on the Eagle Mountain in Minnesota.The north face of a mountain in the northern hemisphere is generally the coldest, iciest and most formidable route to climb. 

For a time the store offered only highly selected merchandise targeted to climbers and backpackers. By the 1980s, skiwear was added, followed by camping equipment. 

Now, more than 40 years after its humble grand opening, The North Face delivers an extensive line of performance apparel, equipment, and footwear. They push the boundaries of innovation so that you can push the boundaries of exploration. The brand remains deeply proud to be the first choice of the world's most accomplished climbers, mountaineers, extreme skiers, snowboarders, endurance runners, and explorers.