The North Face Downdays Brand Guide

The North Face

Never stop exploring.

Named for the most challenging side of the mountain, The North Face has equipped explorers to reach their dreams since 1966.

It began with a humble climbing shop in San Francisco in the 1960s, and grew into one of the world’s most recognized brand names. Today The North Face is an undisputed leader in the world of outdoor exploration, making everything from equipment for the most demanding expeditions to fashion-forward pieces for the hypebeasts.

If there’s one word that describes The North Face, it’s exploration. The drive to explore the unknown has motivated the company’s founders since the beginning, and continues to drive its innovation today.

Did you know that…

…the Grateful Dead played at the grand opening of the first The North Face store in 1966?

…The North Face logo is inspired by Yosemite’s iconic Half Dome?

…The North Face developed one of the first-ever internal frame backpacks, helping bring the concept of “backpacking” to life?

With a legacy that now spans eight decades, The North Face has become synonymous with adventure. And since the 1980s, skiing has been a major part of that heritage. Beginning with the Steep Tech clothing popularized by Scot Schmidt in the 1900s to the next-generation gear worn today by athletes like Tom Wallisch, Nick McNutt, Dennis Ranalter, Sam Anthamatten, Sage Cattabriga-Alosa, Johnny Collinson, Markus Eder and dozens of other athletes, The North Face’s presence in skiing is indelible.

A moving portrait of Dennis Ranalter, "Descendance" is just one of The North Face's powerful forays into filmmaking.
"Free Rider" by Jérôme Tanon is one of the most ambitious and hilarious snowsports films in recent memory. Haven't seen it yet? Stop what you're doing and press play.