The North Face Reissues The Extreme ‘Steep Tech’ Skiing Collection From ’91.

Function, performance and ski-nostalgia meet streetwear.

A few weeks ago, a quick google search of ‘Scot Schmidt’ or steep tech would have sent you into a black hole of vintage The North Face 1991 Steep Tech gear sold by collectors from Japan to the U.S on various e-com platforms. 



Now, combined with demand from retailers to bring back this performance-based collection, The North Face have reissued their 1991 Steep Tech Collection that was on of the brands first athlete-designed collections, led by none other than ski legend Scot Schmidt. 




Immortalised in Warren Millers ‘Extreme Team’ ski films, Scot Schmidt is known as an industry icon for his fluid ski style and was a natural choice for The North Face to bring on to design a range of performance-driven outdoor garments. Schmidt now has a 36 year-long relationship with TNF. 





In a 2016 interview with The North Face, Schmidt tells the brand that through the eighties the utility and design of the North Face ski-wear were lacking, so he saw the opportunity to create great product specific to his ski-mountaineering practice. From there, in 1991 Schmidt and The North Face created the Steep Tech Collection and now in 2020, sees it’s re-emergence for AW 2020. 


The collection is known for their grey-scale colour palette with hits of bright yellow and The North Face and Steep Tech type branding. 





The Above the Clouds pick from the collection is The Steep Tech Half Zip Fleece. It features heavyweight fleece down the arms and on the body and is reinforced with nylon across the chest for protection against intense winds while down the slopes. Details include yellow and black colour panelling, a chest pocket for small valuables and a kanga-pouch to keep your hands warm. 

The ’91 Steep Tech collection drops October 24 online and in-store  


To keep updated on new releases, drop information and fashion news, follow @abovethecloudsstore on Instagram and subscribe to receive weekly updates on new arrivals straight to your inbox.