Skip to main content

The Manual may earn a commission when you buy through links on our site.

The North Face XX Kaws Collection Colors Outside the Lines

Get yourself an article in The New York Times and suddenly you’re everywhere. After a May 2019 feature on the Brooklyn-based Kaws, Brian Donnelly’s painter identity, the artist’s work now appears everywhere. In the last year alone, his double-exxed eyes are on Reese’s cereal boxes, Supreme shirts, Nike kicks, and, as of February 17, now on a brand line designed for The North Face.

The North Face XX Kaws collection delivers high-tech performance, functional style, and limitless inspiration for epic days of exploration. The winter gear is made for the mountain and the lodge — a snappy, signature curation, all blended lines and fabric patches covering high-quality coats and snow pants on The North Face’s Freeride and Icons of Exploration collections. Impossible-to-look-away patterns, on the other hand, shape a subtle yet bright color palette — blue on black, bordered by purple swaths, forest pine dancing with sea green, black atop of black.

Two people wearing a matching winter coats and snow pants from The North Face XX Kaws collection.
Marc O'Malley/The North Face

Initially assigned to bring 1994 Mountain Light Jackets to life in at least three distinct The North Face colorways, Connelly wasn’t able to just stop there. The collection spills over into a psychedelic series of multi-colored Nuptse jackets, Freeride fleeces, tracksuits, down pants, a balaclava, beanies, and bags. Each item is, of course, tattooed with the Kaws XX tag alongside The North Face’s recognizable logo.

Recommended Videos

Like The North Face, Kaws ascended lofty peaks that few are able to claim to have surmounted. Unlike The North Face, Kaws was wearing a jet pack when he launched, giving a simple, graphic that cast all Xs for eyes. Donnelly’s work would first appear in a telephone booth, figures invented in his head and reinvented recognizable ‘toons. His riff on Mickey Mouse in “Companion,” was one of the first to receive Kaws’ signature double Xs.

Related Guides

Kaws worked his way up from the concrete before the catchy characters became toy staples. Connelly transcended the illegal for the commercialized, jumping into collaborations of all sizes like a twisted real-life Krusty the Clown — Xs on toys, tees, and all types of products. Kaws opened his Tokyo apparel store, OriginalFake, before he ever had an art exhibition. Now his work is a staple of 21st-century American culture.

The North Face XX Kaws collection is the brand’s very first line designed by the legendary artist. For this curated clothing, Kaws uses The North Face’s iconic silhouettes as a canvas, reimagining his work in the great outdoors. The result finds its identity in the American landscape’s solid colors and organic patterns.

Available in the U.S., select global markets and on The North Face’s homepage, pieces in this special curation range from $55 to $550.

Matthew Denis
Matt Denis is an on-the-go remote multimedia reporter, exploring arts, culture, and the existential in the Pacific Northwest…
Adidas and CLOT turn the Stan Smith into a summer-ready espadrille
Adidas, CLOT by Edison Chen remix the Stan Smith sneaker
man wearing white adidas stan smith sneakers

Continuing their long-standing partnership, Adidas and CLOT by Edison Chen are once again delivering a remix on one of the brand’s most classic designs. Fresh off of the release of their beaded sneakers, the newest launch between this duo is all about a summer-inspired design on the heritage Stan Smith sneaker. As part of the launch, a new campaign featuring various athletic stars, including tennis legend Stan Smith and F1 driver George Russell, captures the essence of the sneaker’s traditional look while incorporating modern upgrades. Adding a seasonally apt espadrille sole to the Stan Smith design, the sneaker becomes the ultimate summer shoe, fusing a classic summer style with Adidas’ iconic casual sneaker. 

Get ready to take on summer with Adidas x CLOT by Edison Chen

Read more
Hunter x Represent redefines western style with a new cowboy boot drop
Hunter, Represent unveil a new cowboy boot
hunter boot in saddle

When it comes to creating a sturdy yet stylish boot that can withstand rain and the elements, Hunter is well established as a major player in the industry. Known for their chic yet practical rainboots, Hunter has nailed the concept of balancing style with function, even in the most extreme environments. Now, with fellow British-based brand, Represent, Hunter is taking on a new frontier: the American West. While both brands hail from the United Kingdom, this partnership explores the ultimate Americana footwear, the cowboy boot. With a fusion piece that embodies this heritage silhouette, both brands have elevated the style with their distinctive British flair. Bringing two new boot styles to the table, this collaboration draws inspiration from Western aesthetics, featuring details reminiscent of vintage cowboy boots. 

Hunter x Represent takes on the cowboy boot with British flair

Read more
Lancia and Eberhard unveil a bold new HF watch celebrating racing heritage
Lancia and Eberhard & Co. launch HF luxury watch honoring iconic racing legacy
The 'High Fidelity' timepiece up close

Bringing together the finest in Italian design and Swiss watchmaking mastery, Lancia and Eberhard & Co. have teamed up to create the Lancia HF ('High Fidelity') luxury watch — a striking timepiece that revels in the brand’s iconic motorsport history. The collaboration marks another milestone in Lancia’s resurgence, merging cutting-edge technology with timeless racing heritage.

Released at Lancia Design Day, the HF timepiece epitomizes the fearless spirit of the brand’s legendary High Fidelity (HF) performance badge, a symbol of speed and innovation. Eberhard & Co., a Swiss watchmaker revered since 1887, has masterfully crafted a chronograph reflecting Lancia’s dynamic aesthetic while upholding the highest standards of precision engineering.

Read more