The North Face brand was established in 1968, in San Francisco, California, when Douglas Tompkins and Kenneth \\\"Hap\\\" Klopp created an equipment retail store that eventually acquired the current name \\\"The North Face\\\". This name was chosen because the north face of a mountain in the northern hemisphere is generally the steepest, coldest, and most difficult face to climb. The North Face, Inc. is an outdoor product company specializing in high-end outerwear, fleece, footwear, and equipment. The clothing and equipment lines are catered towards climbers, mountaineers, skiers, snowboarders, hikers, and endurance athletes.The clothing line is famous for its use on mountaineering expeditions on Mt. Everest and in other extreme outdoor activities.