Two Collections, One Vision: The North Face SS25 Reimagines Movement

Urban Exploration Collection: a City in Motion

Modern cities evolve constantly—and so does how we move through them. This collection offers performance wear engineered for urban adaptability, merging lightweight outerwear, modular layering and weather-ready fabrics to keep pace with the ever-changing environment.

Each piece effortlessly transitions from one setting to another, ensuring mobility without restriction. This collection prepares wearers for unexpected moments, underlining the fact that exploration is about navigating dynamic environments with ease.

The Cecilie Bahnsen collaboration explores movement through form, craftsmanship and femininity (Photo: Karl Lam/ Tatler Hong Kong)

SS25 The North Face x Cecilie Bahnsen Collection: Elegant Exploration

While the city’s pulse shapes the Urban Exploration Collection, the Cecilie Bahnsen collaboration explores movement through form, craftsmanship and femininity.

Unveiled during Cecilie Bahnsen’s spring/summer 2025 runway show, the collaboration merges her couture sensibilities with The North Face’s performance expertise. Inspired by archival pieces by the brand’s legendary late designer Ingrid Harshbarger, the collection reinterprets iconic outerwear through sculptural volume, couture detailing and technical innovation.

Bahnsen, known for her romantic silhouettes and meticulous craftsmanship, reimagines The North Face’s iconic outdoor staples, softening their structure while preserving performance. “I’ve always loved how women around the world wear my designs in their own way, and this collaboration builds on that spirit. The North Face’s technical expertise not only complements my designs but elevates how they’re lived in—effortless, functional and ready for every day,” says Bahnsen.

“She doesn’t fall, she rises” is the philosophy underpinning her designs, which transform movement into an artistic expression. Her seven-piece collection includes classics reimagined, with fresh updates to the Base Camp Duffel and Glenclyffe Boot, featuring 3D floral appliqués, scalloped edges and a monochromatic black palette for a refined, contemporary aesthetic. The Mountain Dress, along with other versatile silhouettes, features adjustable elements to enhance movement without restriction, making each piece effortlessly wearable.

The collaboration merges Cecilie Bahnsen's couture sensibilities with The North Face’s performance expertise (Photo: Karl Lam/ Tatler Hong Kong)

It’s appreciated by people like professional climber Brooke Raboutou, who highlights the way the designs combine sport and fashion. “I love getting to see and be a part of sports having an influence on fashion and vice versa,” she says. Another fan, fellow climber Molly Thompson-Smith, adds, “This collaboration showcases how femininity and performance can cross over, looking strong and beautiful at the same time. I love wearing pieces where the function and performance element is still a priority but with a more experimental and fashionable twist.”

With a campaign shot in Fontainebleau near Paris, the collection reinforces the connection between fashion and nature. “This campaign is such a special moment for me—it captures the meeting of two worlds, where the feminine and the outdoors come together in perfect harmony,” says Bahnsen. The theme also extends into the retail experience, with Bahnsen collaborating with the brand team to design a bespoke in-store concept that blends climbing-inspired elements with delicate floral aesthetics.

The collection launches March 13 at The North Face in the K11 Art Mall.

The collection reinterprets iconic outerwear through sculptural volume, couture detailing and technical innovation (Photo: Karl Lam/ Tatler Hong Kong)

A New Language of Exploration

The brand challenges traditional ideas of movement with an aesthetic that is as much about creativity as it is about performance. Together, these collections challenge the conventions of performance wear, demonstrating that exploration is not just about where you go—it’s about how you move.