The Denali jacket has pedigree. First introduced in the late 80s, it helped define what modern outdoor gear looked like, long before gorpcore was a word. Boxy, practical, and instantly recognisable, it became one of The North Face’s most enduring silhouettes, worn as readily on university campuses as it was on actual mountains.
Now it has been reimagined in a way few saw coming. The new 1995 Casentino Denali Jacket swaps synthetic fleece for Casentino wool, a distinctive Italian fabric that has been produced in Tuscany for centuries. Known for its tightly curled, bobbled finish, Casentino wool was originally designed to trap heat, resist wear, and age gracefully. In Denali form, it brings a tactile, almost sculptural quality that feels markedly different to anything else in The North Face archive. Reinforced with modern wind-resistant overlays, it lands somewhere between heritage outerwear and contemporary winter layering.
The North Face Casentino Collection
That idea runs through the rest of the Casentino Collection. Rather than leaning on the brand’s usual synthetics, The North Face lets the wool do most of the talking, applying it to familiar shapes and letting texture take centre stage. The effect is quietly confident, focused on warmth, durability, and material story rather than technical theatrics.
Footwear is where things get particularly interesting. The Verto Alpine GORE-TEX® Casentino Hiking Boots pair the rugged Italian wool upper with modern waterproof protection and a technical sole unit. They look unconventional in the best possible way, sitting neatly between alpine footwear and something you could realistically wear in the city without feeling like you are heading for base camp.
Overall, the Casentino Collection feels like a subtle shift. It blurs the line between performance gear and refined winter wardrobe, suggesting a brand increasingly comfortable letting heritage and texture lead alongside function. The collection is available now from The North Face, with pricing reflecting its premium materials and limited-run status.
Next up: Everything you ever wanted to know about gorpcore.
