The North Face Global Brand President Caroline Brown just recently reassured investors that the former Donna Karan CEO had no plans to transform the outdoor brand into a high-fashion label.
But that doesn’t mean TNF is going to slow down on its high-fashion collaborations, most recently with ultra-feminine Copenhagen designer Cecilie Bahnsen, which launched March 13.
“I’ve always loved how women around the world wear my designs in their own way, and this collaboration builds on that spirit,” Bahnsen said. “The North Face’s technical expertise not only complements my designs but elevates how it’s lived in – effortless, functional, and ready for every day.”
The seven-piece collection includes the Mountain Dress ($900), Mountain Jacket ($1,000), Short Mountain Jacket ($800), Mountain Short ($600), Base Camp Clutch ($250), Base Camp Duffel ($400) and Glenclyffe Boot ($350). Echoing the success of its recent collab with Skims, the Bahnsen collection is already nearly sold out on The North Face’s website.
The Sara Mountain Jacket ($1000) by TNF x Cecilie Bahnsen combines performance and couture elements. Photo courtesy of The North face.
Bahnsen said the collection is a tribute to the late Ingrid Harshbarger, a co-founder of Mountain Hardwear and a longtime designer at TNF who is known for the iconic Mountain Jacket, which just celebrated its 40th anniversary.
“Diving into her design inheritance was deeply inspiring, and it became impossible for that influence not to shape the entire collection,” Bahnsen said. “It pushed me to approach craftsmanship, functionality, and durability in a completely new way – bringing the ideas of everyday couture and a deeper exploration of details and wearability to the forefront.”
In addition to the collection, Bahnsen also collaborated with TNF on its retail presentation, which combined climbing-inspired elements with floral accents, which appear throughout the designs.
Bahnsen said she became fascinated with climbers as she worked on the collection.
“There’s a strength and complexity in what they do, yet it appears so graceful and effortless, almost like ballet – performed vertically on a cliff edge,” she said. “My dream is to embody that same courage and elegance.”
