Why the North Face Partnered with Kim Kardashian on the Skims Collab

Legacy outdoor brand the North Face crossed into a new frontier of exploration early this week with the launch of their latest line of winter gear, a collaboration with Skims, the intimates and shapewear brand headed by Kim Kardashian. The 14-piece collection includes a mixture of baselayers, puffer jackets, hats, gloves, balaclavas, and footwear and has already sold out in stores and online since the Dec. 10 release.

A main piece of the collection includes a jacket reminiscent of retro North Face style but in the neutral colorways that Skims fans will instantly recognize. “Kim Kardashian has a love of skiing. She also has a love of the North Face’s archival design,” says Sandra Clark, director of global brand marketing at the North Face. “You may have seen her in one of our Nuptse jackets [named for the Himalayan peak]. She’s got a few of our iconic pieces and she’s even tailored some, so we used that input in our design.”

The collection includes a range of winter gear, including insulated jackets, performance-oriented base layers, and essential accessories for skiing and cold weather. It emphasizes warmth, functionality, and iconic styles, with pieces suited for both casual and technical use. Prices range from mid-range to luxury, from $60 to $1,200 (Skims brought in $713 million in 2023, according to Financial Publication, Inc.).

The Refina is a baselayer capsule within the collaboration collection, featuring a quarter-zip top, leggings, and a one-piece. Designed for performance, the Refina pieces use a material brand-new to the North Face, combining Skims-esque Lycra with their FlashDry™ technology. This innovative fabric wicks moisture away from the skin, keeping you dry, cool, and comfortable during high-intensity activities. The pieces blend Skims’ body-conscious design—evident in features like the high neck and cinched midsection—with the North Face’s technical expertise, delivering both style and functionality. “It’s all about stretch and compression, giving you that secure fit you would expect from Skims,” says Sandra Clark, director of global brand marketing at the North Face. This material will also feature in future North Face products, including their Spring ’25 collection.

Other pieces in the collaboration feature the North Face’s DotKnit moisture-wicking fabric, also used in their Summit Series line. The leggings and top fit are slightly looser than the Refina, making it ideal for high-intensity activities like touring. The Skims-inspired design includes a high-waisted legging and a top with a signature neckline, combining functionality with modern style.

Social media posts teasing the collab went live last week, featuring skiers in tidy formations atop snowy peaks in the Chilean Andes at El Colorado. By featuring a mix of professional models and skiers, including Sole Diaz, Petra Cola, and Kellyn Wilson, the two brands aimed to highlight a message Clark hopes is evident to consumers: This collaboration promotes exploration for everyone and invites more women into snow sports.

The public response, however, has been mixed. While some consumers praised the aesthetics, others criticized the collaboration for prioritizing fashion over function, questioning its utility for serious skiers and its alignment with the North Face’s sustainability values.

One Instagram user commented, “North Face disappointing again. This is a fashion collab designed for women’s bodies to be looked at, but the functionality is useless. Where would you actually use this beyond the bunny hill or après?”

Amid the critiques, commending comments also appeared, such as one user who enthusiastically wrote, “Damn, ima figure out how to board for this.” One Reddit user wrote, “As a Seattle Native, North Face is like our designer brand. I have friends who have never once mentioned the Kardashians to me, and they talked about this [collection] today.” The mixed responses underscore the polarizing nature of blending fashion-forward designs with a traditionally performance-driven sport.

Cassie Abel, founder of the sustainability-focused women’s outdoor brand Wild Rye, who designs with backcountry and freeride skiers and riders in mind, acknowledges the market for women-led resort outerwear brands to lead the way in style.

“I think there is a place for all of us, and I’m thrilled to see other women taking the lead in making products we want and need, no matter the style or skill level,” says Abel. “I don’t believe there is a right or wrong here—it all comes down to personal preference and use cases.”

However, when it comes to attracting more women to snow sports, Abel, who founded Women-Led Wednesday, an annual holiday encouraging everyone to shop from women-led brands, is skeptical that a collaboration between the North Face and Skims hits the mark.

“I’m disappointed in this one. As a leader in the outdoor space, I’d expect the North Face to have better filters in place to ensure they’re working with brands with aligned values,” she says, referring to the low scores Skims has received on many human rights and environmental policies. A report by advocacy group Remake gave Skims a zero score in its 2024 accountability report, citing issues with transparency, wages, and environmental impact.

“At this stage, I would expect every outdoor brand to uphold the highest levels of respect for people and the planet,” Abel added. “If not from a values standpoint, because our industry depends on it.”

This is not the first time the North Face has received mixed attention for their collab projects. The brand has a history of collaborations with pop culture and mainstream brands, often in the designer sphere, like Gucci, Supreme, Comme Des Garçons, Maison Margiela, Timberland, and Vans. However, the partnership with Skims represents a new direction for the company. Dave Whetstone, the North Face’s director of global collaborations and energy, says this collaboration pushes the brand’s boundaries by integrating Skims’ body-conscious designs and neutral color palettes with the North Face’s technical performance wear.

“Skims has a price point that’s more accessible than other fashion collab. This one felt more unexpected but also more accessible,” Whetstone explained.

He says this collab is about an inclusive introduction to the North Face and exploring new possibilities, especially as Skims is innately feminine, something the North Face hasn’t explored as much with other projects.

“We are always looking for brands that are innovating and in tune with culture, and Skims is doing that, especially for women when it comes to fit, function, and style,” says Clark. “We are proud that we were able to honor one another’s DNA.”