Which company acquired The North Face in 2000?

VF Corporation acquired The North Face in 2000.

The deal made The North Face a wholly owned VF subsidiary and helped place the outdoor brand inside a much larger apparel and footwear portfolio. VF, originally founded as the Reading Glove and Mitten Manufacturing Company in 1899, had already built experience managing multiple consumer brands before the acquisition.

The North Face was founded in 1968 in San Francisco by Douglas Tompkins and Susie Tompkins Buell. By the late 1990s, it had expanded from equipment for climbers and other outdoor users into a broader clothing business. VF’s purchase followed a financially difficult period for The North Face and was reported as a cash deal worth $25.4 million.

A frequent source of confusion is the distinction between an acquisition and a collaboration. Patagonia, Adidas, and Nike have all occupied neighboring markets or appeared alongside The North Face in outdoor and sportswear discussions, but none acquired the company. VF Corporation remains the parent company, while The North Face continues to operate as its own brand.