Wilderness chic is sort of a strange moniker to attach to the American company The North Face. Ubiquitous in both suburbia and the big city, The North Face backpacks are ideally suited to the shape of school books and other educational paraphernalia. In some models, the cut of fabric is squared off to specifically fit books and laptops. So where did the company get its image?
Originally, The North Face made ski and camping equipment out of a small shop in San Francisco, later purchased by VF Corporation. Makers of outdoor equipment like jackets, shoes and The North Face Vault backpacks, the company is named for, supposedly, the hardest side of the mountain to climb–the north side. Today, the company and its sibling Jansport are located in Alameda, California, coincidentally the same county as the destructive force known as Mythbusters. With people setting off dynamite in the countryside, The North Face knows tough equipment.
When purchasing backpacks from The North Face and Jansport bookbags, be wary. Since the 90s, the companies have been the target of counterfeiters riding on the wave of wilderness chic. The North Face makes quality products at a relatively high price point, but their backpacks feature nigh-indestructible materials, reflective safety badges, and specialized functions.
