The North Face to open Prague flagship store on Sept. 14

September 2006: The North Face®, the world’s premier supplier of technically innovative outdoor apparel and equipment, is proud to open its first retail store in the Czech Republic. The new flagship store will open on Thursday, September 14, in the Jungamannova area, in the bustling heart of downtown Prague.

The Prague store features 174 square meters of retail space, plus areas for storage and offices, and highlights contemporary outdoor products, while remaining true to the architectural history of Prague’s Old Town district. Located on Jungamannova, the store was designed for outdoor enthusiasts and retail shoppers. The store will offer customers a visually stunning, exclusive shopping experience as they explore the complete selection of The North Face® authentic outdoor apparel, footwear, equipment and accessories for men, women and children.

For the store design, The North Face® collaborated with Italian-based design firm Brombini & Saccardo, which carefully redesigned the historic location to express The North Face® philosophy, Never Stop Exploringâ„¢. Built in the 1920’s, the building retains a marked Art Deco style, which Brombini & Saccardo were careful to preserve, right down to the original balustrade and the archetypical geometric pattern on the parapet. The brand mood is established by the vibrant red shade of the prominent beam and pillars of the store’s front room. The crimson color is echoed in an illuminated The North Face® logo beside the entrance, and in the outdoor-themed graphic that hangs from the ceiling.

“Our design team strived to preserve the historic elements of this beautiful building,” explained principal architect Carlo Saccardo. “We altered none of the structural works. Even in the construction of the few interior drywalls, the builders did not use any screws in the floor or ceiling.” Since the building is encased in an original brass frame, the The North Face® sign was also constructed of single brass letters.

“Prague is a city that shares our passion for exploring both the natural and the built environment,” said Topher Gaylord, President Outdoor International, which comprises The North Face® and JanSport® brands. “We hope both the local Czech community and Prague’s visitors will come to know us not only as a great spot to find gear for outdoor adventures, but also as a gathering place and resource for exploration and environmental stewardship,” Gaylord added.

About The North Face®
The North Face®, a subsidiary of VF Corp., was founded in 1966. Headquartered in San Leandro, California, the Company offers the most technically advanced products on the market to accomplished climbers, mountaineers, extreme skiers and explorers. To meet the growing demand for The North Face® products from consumers on the Old Continent, the Company began its European operations in 1983. Today The North Face® is distributed worldwide, including the following European countries: Andorra, Austria, Belgium, Czech Republic, Denmark, Estonia, Finland, France, Germany, Greece, Greenland, Hungary, Iceland, Ireland, Israel, Italy, Luxembourg, the Netherlands, Norway, Poland, Portugal, Russia, Slovenia, Spain, Sweden, Switzerland and the United Kingdom. The Company’s products are sold in specialty mountaineering, backpacking and skiing retailers, premium sporting goods retailers and major outdoor specialty retail chains. Additional information about The North Face® can be found on the Company’s website at www.thenorthface.com.


EUROPEAN PRESS CONTACT:
Francesca Nalesso, francesca_nalesso@vfc.com