The North Face, Inc. is an American outdoor product company founded in 1968 by Douglas Tompkins; specializing in outerwear, fleece, coats, shirts, footwear and equipment such as backpacks, tents and sleeping bags. Its clothing and equipment lines are catered towards college students, climbers, mountaineers, skiers, snowboarders, hikers and endurance athletes. The company sponsors professional athletes from the worlds of running, climbing, skiing and snowboarding.