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The Brand Ledger

The North Face

American outdoor apparel and pack brand. Originally a Berkeley, CA technical outdoor retailer.

Status: Watchlist
Founded
1966
HQ
USA
Manufacturing
Vietnam,China,Bangladesh,Various
Ownership type
Conglomerate subsidiary
Parent
VF Corporation
Acquired
2000

Ownership

Acquired by VF Corporation in 2000. Sister backpack brands under VF include JanSport, Eastpak, Kipling. Premium Summit Series line retains Cordura and other quality materials; entry- and mid-tier products have been degraded.

Why Watchlist

Deliberate tier segmentation. Same brand name on premium products and on cheap products sold to buyers who trust the logo.

Sister brands under VF Corporation

Read the full investigation