It started in 2007. Two jackets. That was it. One was a bright orange Summit Series, the other an earthy tan, and both featured those iconic leopard-print linings that felt absolutely alien for a brand known for scaling Everest. Before the North Face Supreme x collaboration became a seasonal ritual, it was a genuine shock to the system. You have to remember that back then, high-performance alpine gear didn't mix with downtown skate culture. Not like this.
Streetwear was different then. Now, everyone expects a puffer to cost a thousand bucks. But in the mid-2000s, seeing a "Summit Series" logo—usually reserved for people who actually know how to use an ice axe—right next to a Supreme box logo felt like a glitch in the matrix.
The 2007 Spark and the Summit Series Era
Most people think the hype started with the "By Any Means Necessary" jackets. They're wrong. The foundation was laid much earlier with the 2007 release. This wasn't a "fashion" brand trying to look rugged. It was a rugged brand letting a skate shop rewrite its DNA.
The 2008 "Day Summit" and "Night Summit" jackets changed everything. If you see one of these in the wild today, you’re looking at a museum piece. They featured a high-resolution print of the New York City skyline. It was literal. It was loud. It was exactly what the burgeoning "hypebeast" culture needed to prove that technical outerwear could be art.
Supreme didn't just pick random items from the catalog. They went for the heavy hitters: the Baltoro, the Mountain Jacket, the Denali fleece. These weren't watered-down lifestyle versions. They kept the Gore-Tex. They kept the 700-fill down. They kept the utility. Honestly, that’s why the North Face Supreme x partnership has outlasted almost every other collaboration in history. It wasn't just a sticker on a cheap hoodie. It was a tank that looked like a painting.
Why Some Collabs Fail While This One Wins
Fashion is fickle. Usually, after five or six years, a partnership gets stale. Designers get lazy. They start swapping colors and calling it a "new drop." We've seen it happen with dozens of sneaker lines and high-fashion crossovers that ended up in the clearance bin.
The Supreme and North Face relationship survived because it leaned into the absurd. Take the 2011 "Leopard" Nuptse. Drake wore the gray one in the "The Motto" music video. Suddenly, every kid in a suburban basement wanted a leopard-print puffer jacket meant for sub-zero temperatures. It shouldn't have worked. It looked like something a flashy mobster would wear on a ski trip. Yet, it became the blueprint.
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Materiality and the "Trompe L’oeil" Phase
Then came the textures. In 2013, we got the "Fur" print. It wasn't real fur—it was a print on a Nuptse jacket. It was a joke that everyone took seriously. Then came the "Denim" collection in 2015. Using Windstopper fabric that looked exactly like raw indigo denim was a masterclass in technical irony.
You’ve got to appreciate the balls it takes to make a high-end technical jacket look like a cheap Canadian tuxedo.
- The 2014 "Bandana" Drop: This is arguably the peak. The black, red, and navy paisley Mountain Parkas are still some of the most faked items on the internet because the demand never died.
- The 2017 "Metallic" Collection: Silver, Gold, and Rose Gold. It looked like NASA gear. It was polarizing, sure, but it proved that the North Face Supreme x line wasn't afraid to look hideous to some if it meant looking iconic to others.
- The 2021 "Bleached Denim" Nuptse: A return to the faux-texture roots.
The Resale Reality and the "StockX" Effect
Let's be real about the money. Most people buying these jackets aren't going climbing. They're going to a coffee shop or a sneaker convention. Because of the limited quantities, the North Face Supreme x items became a legitimate asset class.
In 2025, a pristine 2015 "By Any Means Necessary" Nuptse can easily fetch $2,000 to $3,000 depending on the color. Why? Because it’s a cultural marker. It says "I was there" or "I have the capital to buy the history."
But there’s a downside. The market is flooded with "UA" (unauthorized authentic) and high-tier replicas. If you’re buying a pre-owned piece today, you basically need a PhD in stitching patterns and hologram tag placement. Experts like those at Hypebeast or Highsnobiety have documented the minute differences in embroidery for years. The "R" in the North Face logo should never touch the "t." The "Supreme" tag should have a specific density. If the price seems too good to be true, it’s because it’s a fake. Period.
Technical Specs vs. Street Cred
People argue about whether these jackets are "real" gear.
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The answer is yes, but with a caveat. A standard North Face Nuptse is a beast. It’s 700-fill goose down. It’s warm enough for a Chicago winter or a base camp in the Himalayas. The Supreme versions use the same specs. However, the fabrics are often changed for aesthetics. The "Paper Print" Nuptse from 2019 feels slightly different because of the sublimation printing process used to get that crinkled paper look.
Does it matter? Not really. Nobody is complaining about being cold in a Supreme Baltoro. The "Statue of Liberty" Mountain Jackets from 2019 used a waterproof, breathable nylon that holds up in heavy rain. You're getting the performance; you're just paying a 400% markup for the logo on the right sleeve.
What Most People Get Wrong About the Future
A lot of critics say the North Face Supreme x collab is "dead." They’ve been saying that since 2018. They said it when VF Corp (the company that owns The North Face) bought Supreme for $2.1 billion. They thought the "corporate" overlap would kill the "cool" factor.
It didn't.
If anything, it streamlined the production. We’re seeing more experimental shapes now. The "Steep Tech" revivals brought back the 90s motocross-influenced designs of Scott Schmidt. These are complicated garments. They have multiple zippers, hidden pockets, and asymmetric layouts. They are a nightmare to manufacture, yet Supreme keeps churning them out because they know the "Gorpcore" trend—where people dress like they’re about to go on a hike while they’re just going to the grocery store—isn't going anywhere.
The "Paper Print" and the Shift to Art
The 2019 "Paper Print" collection was a turning point. It looked like a crumpled-up piece of loose-leaf paper. It was weird. It was subtle from a distance but chaotic up close. This was the moment the collaboration stopped trying to be "rugged" and started being "conceptual."
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We saw this again with the "S Logo" mountain jackets. Huge, oversized branding that cut across the seams. It was a middle finger to traditional design. It’s that exact "we don't care if you like it" attitude that keeps the North Face Supreme x keyword trending every single season.
How to Actually Buy and Maintain These Pieces
If you're actually going to drop the cash, don't be a rookie.
First, sizing is inconsistent. A Nuptse fits big. Like, really big. You usually need to size down if you don't want to look like a giant marshmallow. The Mountain Parkas, however, are slimmer and better for layering.
Second, stop dry cleaning them. The chemicals in traditional dry cleaning can strip the DWR (Durable Water Repellent) coating off the shells and ruin the loft of the down. Use a specific down wash like Nikwax. Tumble dry on low with three clean tennis balls. It sounds like a chore, but when you’re carrying $1,500 on your back, you take care of it.
Actionable Insights for the Savvy Collector
- Watch the "Secondary" Colors: Everyone wants the Red or Black. If you want a piece that holds value but is easier to get at retail, go for the "off" colors like Teal, Orange, or Yellow. They often become more "iconic" in hindsight.
- The "Spring" vs. "Fall" Strategy: Supreme usually drops a lighter, "Mountain Jacket" focused collection in the Spring and a "Down/Nuptse" collection in the Fall. If you want the technical "Gore-Tex" flex, the Spring drops are usually more wearable year-round.
- Verify the Hologram: Since 2010, The North Face has used a 3D hologram tag behind the care labels. If that’s missing or looks like a flat sticker, walk away.
- Check the Embroidery: Authentic North Face Supreme x embroidery is tight. There should be no "connecting threads" between the letters. In the world of high-end fakes, the "E" in "Face" is usually the giveaway.
The North Face Supreme x era isn't over. It’s just evolving into a heritage brand. We are now at a point where fathers are passing down their 2008 Denali fleeces to their kids. It’s the new vintage. It’s the new luxury. And as long as people want to look like they’re ready for an avalanche while standing in line for a flat white, it will remain the gold standard of collaborations.
Keep an eye on the leaked mockups that usually surface three months before the season. They’re usually 80% accurate. If you see a return to the "all-over print" style, expect the resale prices to jump. If it’s another "S Logo" or "Arc Logo" variation, it might be a sleeper hit. Either way, the North Face Supreme x badge on a sleeve remains the most recognizable status symbol in the street-level fashion world.