The North Face

The North Face is named after the coldest and most unforgiving side of a mountain, and it is known as a brand whose collection perfectly spans everything from streetwear to expeditions in extreme conditions. Somewhat surprisingly, The North Face was founded in the midst of the hippie movement in San Francisco in 1966 – with The Grateful Dead performing at the opening.

The North Face founders Douglas and Susie Tompkins met when Douglas, then working as a casino employee, hitched a ride with Susie during a skiing trip. In the beginning, The North Face was a mail-order business and a brick-and-mortar store for climbing and camping gear. Douglas focused on improving equipment: he is known as the developer of the modern geodesic dome tent, and it was The North Face that produced the Ruthsack, one of the first modern hiking backpacks to replace the old external-frame models.