<P> The company sponsors professional athletes from the worlds of running, climbing, skiing and snowboarding . </P> <P> The North Face began as a San Francisco - based climbing equipment retail store, founded in 1966 by Douglas Tompkins and his then - wife, Susie Tompkins . It was acquired two years later by Kenneth "Hap" Klopp . </P> <P> The name was derived to evoke homage to the fact the north face of a mountain in the northern hemisphere is generally the coldest, iciest and most formidable route to climb . </P> <P> Originally the store offered only highly selective merchandise, targeted to climbers and backpackers . By the 1980s, skiwear was added, followed by camping equipment . Today The North Face offers many product categories from athletic clothing to more casual sportswear, though they are best known for insulated jackets . </P>

What is the north face brand named after