The North Face’s giant, gleaming NYC flagship store on Fifth Ave. opens its doors to the public today, 50 years after the brand’s first store opening in San Francisco. Tons of all-new clothing and equipment are available right now, including hardcore mountaineering gear and a new line of urban-active wear. But that’s hardly the most exciting part.
Later this fall, the store will be the first in the U.S. to carry the Japan Unlimited series, a new clothing line inspired by the highly coveted, extremely rare Purple Label, a collection of minimalist technical clothing that is available only in Japan. The mastermind behind Purple Label is Eiichiro Homma, a fashion designer who also runs nanamica, a Japanese fashion house known for its bold takes on traditional technical wear. In an interview with High Snobiety, Homma said that Purple Label’s US release has been held back due to a disconnect between The North Face Japan and The North Face US, which tend to operate independently of each other. The exact U.S. release date of the Purple Label-inspired line has not yet been revealed, but you can expect to see it within the next few months.
