All Images: Courtesy of The North Face
The North Face (TNF) has been a leader in the outdoor apparel industry since the brand first hit the market in 1968. With more than 50 years of exploration under its belt, the brand’s most recent launch of its proprietary fabric, FUTURELIGHT, is arguably TNF’s biggest achievement.
The concept for FUTURELIGHT first came about from the brand’s global athlete team needing their waterproof gear to simply perform and breathe better. Determined to reestablish the standards of waterproof gear, The North Face began its multi-year journey to create a fabric that is waterproof but also soft, flexible and breathable as well as durable and sustainably designed. After three years in research, development and lab and field testing, FUTURELIGHT is finally ready for the public.
TNF’s FUTURELIGHT fabric is created through a special nanospinning process that creates nano-level holes allowing for unmatched air permeability within the fabric membrane. These holes make the jacket incredibly porous for venting while still maintaining complete waterproofing. This process also allows designers to customize each piece of outerwear to the intended use of the garment; adjusting weight, stretch, breathability, durability, construction–knit or woven–and texture. Meaning designers can customize the fabric at the manufacturing level, like increasing breathability for aerobic pursuits in its Flight Series or maximizing protection for harsher, high-alpine climates in its Summit and Steep Series.
Along with being completely customizable, The North Face was able to make the fabric creation process for FUTURELIGHT an industry leader in sustainability. TNF designers can now create three-layer garments with the face and backer layers made up of 90-percent recycled materials.
After three years of research and development and over 400 days of in-field testing by 15 TNF athletes, including Team Captain and alpinist, Hilaree Nelson, FUTURELIGHT is officially on the market. Featured in the Flight, Summit and Steep Series of outerwear, there’s a FUTURELIGHT garment for every athlete.
