The North Face honours 60 years of exploration with Fire Horse collection

Marking the arrival of the Year of the Fire Horse and in celebration of its 60th anniversary, The North Face has dropped its latest “Year of the Horse exploration collection” defined by the brand’s “Never stop exploring” motto.

Inspired by the powerful symbolism of the Fire Horse in the Lunar calendar, the collection channels the spirit of “Forged by flame, reborn in motion,” blending natural elements with elevated design aesthetics. It spans high-performance gear, outdoor functionality, and urban lifestyle pieces—honouring six decades of pushing boundaries in adventure and design.

Since its founding in 1966, The North Face has consistently broken new ground—from the revolutionary 1975 dome tent, to the iconic 1985 Jacket, the 1992 NUPTSE Down Jacket, and the 2000 launch of the Summit Series for extreme expeditions. For 60 years, every innovation has served one purpose: to empower explorers to push further, climb higher, and reach beyond limits.

Stone Dong, vice president and general manager of The North Face Asia Pacific, said, “True exploration is not only about reaching distant places, but also about returning to our original spirit.”  This enduring spirit of exploration carries into the Year of the Horse.

The new collection draws on "Natural essence" and "Totemic momentum" as its core design concepts, weaving together vast starry skies, rugged rock landscapes, and majestic horse totems. This fusion symbolises the eternal, galaxy-like symbiotic bond between humanity and nature, paying homage to explorers' fearless spirit of charging toward the unknown.

The new collection also draws inspiration from humanity's deep connection with nature, such as the gravitational pull between stars. Colours unfold across three chapters: the starlight series captures the spirit of navigation and brand heritage through radiant hues such as star glow gold and dawn sand gold; the fire horse series gives symbolic life totems cosmic depth in rich tones such as twilight purple and mane crimson; and the earth series grounds everything in natural landscapes with steady shades such as Mocha Brown and Flame Rock Gray.

Taking reference from ancient pottery firing techniques, the collection weaves galloping horse silhouettes into natural patterns to honour life's primal wildness. The totem design emphasises "momentum," referencing the Eastern Han Dynasty's "Galloping Bronze Horse" and the dynamic fluid lines of a galloping horse’s spine in modern ink-wash art, all blended with The North Face's iconic half dome arch to depict a thousand-mile steed charging forward across the garment.

Prints take cues from the trail marks of mapping and wilderness exploration, creating "Exploration Marks" that trace journey paths and ridgelines. Woven rope details in mountain hues symbolise humanity's deep bond with nature, with their form evoking saddle ropes that tie back to the equine theme. Each knot carries coiled tension, a firm resolve to charge toward the mountains and seas with a stallion’s stamina and power.

In a bold nod to avant-garde urban exploration, The North Face collaborates with designer Liang Dong to reinterpret traditional Chinese aesthetics through a futuristic lens. The result is a striking fusion of function and fashion, featuring arc-shaped cuts and asymmetrical details that break conventional boundaries—designed for urban explorers who seek both style and substance.

The collection features the Yoth Stormpeak FL Jacket, Yoth Cascade dryvent jacket, down jackets and W Nuptse short jacket. This latest collection stands as both a stunning Lunar New Year tribute and a testament to The North Face's 60-year "Never stop exploring" legacy.

MARKETING-INTERACTIVE has reached out to The North Face for more information.

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