Every year, countless new garments hit the market. The vast majority of them fade into relative obscurity fast. But there's a handful of designs that transcend time and trends to achieve iconic status. These pieces, often born of function, become part of the fabric of culture over time. We're talking Converse Chuck Taylor All Stars, Levi's 501s, or, in the case of alpine outerwear, The North Face's Mountain Jacket.
First released in 1985 as a high-performance shell for mountaineers, the Mountain Jacket has spent the last four decades proving its worth in every kind of extreme environment. Now, to mark its 40th anniversary, The North Face is bringing it back with a 2025 collection that nods to its history while refining it for the future.
Survival vs. style
The Mountain Jacket wasn’t designed to be cool. It was created to stop people freezing to death in high-altitude snowstorms. No stranger to an Everest expedition, the original featured a seam-sealed shell, harness-friendly pockets, and a cut built for layering.
OK, so what's the big deal? These are all standard features in technical jackets today. Yes, but what you need to understand is that, at the time, they were game-changers. Over the years, the jacket evolved, incorporating GORE-TEX for added protection, then FUTURELIGHT in 2020 for breathability. In 2025, the latest iteration comes in DRYVENT Mono – a waterproof, seam-sealed material that’s also 100% recycled.
But while it was built for climbers, the Mountain Jacket was always destined for more. By the 2010s, it had become a streetwear staple, popping up in collaborations with Supreme, MM6 Maison Margiela, and KAWS. It was worn by snowboarders, graffiti artists, musicians, and anyone who appreciated the balance of function and design. Few jackets can claim to be as comfortable on a rock face as they are in a nightclub queue. The Mountain Jacket is one of them.
The 2025 collection
For its 40th anniversary, The North Face is releasing two versions of the jacket, each designed for a different kind of adventure.
The Mountain Jacket DRYVENT Mono (£225) is the more accessible of the two, built from fully waterproof, seam-sealed 100% recycled fabric that’s designed to handle everything from sudden downpours to city commutes. The Mountain Jacket GORE-TEX (£425) is the hardcore option, featuring high-performance waterproofing, pit zips for ventilation, and alpine-style pockets. Both feature adjustable hems, cuffs, and hoods, along with zip-in compatibility with The North Face’s Denali and Nuptse jackets.
The Mountain Jacket has been a mainstay in technical outerwear for 40 years – but that’s only part of the story. It’s a case study in how performance gear can become something bigger than its original purpose, outlasting trends and proving that good design is timeless.
The North Face 2025 Mountain Jacket collection drops on February 25 at thenorthface.co.uk and select retail locations.
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