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The story of The North Face's Trans-Antarctica collection ❄️

October 21, 2021 9:00 AM
The story of The North Face's Trans-Antarctica collection ❄️

During the design process, the design team of The North Face always try to think about all possible weather conditions. For most of us, a fleece jacket with a thick winter coat is enough in December. But the six adventurers who did the 1990 International Trans-Antarctica Expedition needed a bit more clothing.

1990 International Trans-Antarctica Expedition

In 1990, the International Trans-Antarctic Expedition took place. This expedition was more than six thousand kilometres long and lasted no less than two hundred and twenty days. For the first time, they crossed Antarctica without any mechanical equipment.

Six men from many different countries ventured on this adventure. To survive the cold, they had to have good gear and clothing. All six men wore the outdoor brand The North Face. At times, it was even one hundred and thirteen degrees below zero.

The items worn by the expedition members were called the 'Trans-Antarctic Expedition' (TAE) items from that year onwards.

1990 International Trans-Antarctica Expedition
Image by Per Breiehagen

The North Face Trans-Antarctica collection

The reissue of The North Face Trans-Antarctica collection has been tested by athletes and in very cold areas. Not only athletes and people who want to go on expeditions are fans of the TAE collection, but also the ordinary lifestyle consumer of The North Face. For this reason, they want to be more active in this market.

The new collection includes parkas, fleece jackets, hoodies and trousers. All these items have a patch with The North Face logo and the flags of the expedition members from 1990. The logo of the International Trans-Antarctica Expedition can also be found on all items.

The garments in this TAE collection are not the same as the ordinary parkas and fleece jackets we wear in the Netherlands. The items contain extra elements against the cold of course, but also for ultimate functionality.

The parka in this collection contains pleats in the sleeve, which allow the arm to move more easily and smoothly. At the hood, waist and bottom hem, there are drawstrings that allow you to adjust the tightness of the jacket. This keeps the cold out. These adjustments were also made for the original TAE parka's from 1990.

The North Face Trans-Antarctica Parka

The only adjustments that have been made are for legal reasons. The logo of the Soviet Union was replaced by the flag of Russia and instead of the flag of China, they used the The North Face logo on a red background. Without these adjustments, they were an exact replica.

In addition to these adjustments, there have also been environmental changes. Recycled fabrics and Dryvent waterproof material have been used. The down in the jacket is responsibly sourced.

Even the colours of the clothing items have remained the same. These striking colours were used to make the expedition members stand out in the white landscape of Antarctica.

All clothing items

The parkas are available in three different colours.

tnf trans-antarctica parka
the north face trans-antarctica parka
tnf trans-antarctica parka

The fleece vests are available in two colours and match the colours of the parkas.

the north face trans-antarctica fleece
tnf trans-antarctica fleece

The hoodies are available in four different colours and have the same pleats on the sleeve as the parkas.

tnf trans-antarctica hoodie
the north face trans-antarctica hoodie
tnf trans-antarctica hoodie
the north face trans-antarctica hoodie

Finally, the three trousers that match the parkas.

tnf trans-antarctica broek
the north face trans-antarctica parka
tnf trans-antarctica broek

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