The North Face’s ongoing collaboration with Jun Takahashi’s UNDERCOVER continues with its fourth SOUKUU collection – a conceptual, fashion-forward approach to outdoor gear. Where most trailwear announces itself in performance jargon and neon trims, SOUKUU speaks in a lower register. This is clothing for hiking, running and moving, but it works in the city too.
The name itself translates loosely as “inward stillness,” which gives you an idea of where the mood is pitched. The SS25 collection expands on that philosophy, offering a selection of layered, functional garments built with adaptability in mind. There are jackets with zip-off panels, vented tops that regulate temperature without fuss, and footwear built to move without friction. It’s less about conquering the outdoors, more about coexisting within it.
SOUKUU: Key pieces
Take the VECTIV™ Pro Hybrid, for example – a trail shoe with The North Face’s stabilising footplate and forward-rolling sole unit, designed to convert each footstrike into forward momentum. There’s tech here, but it’s housed in a form that’s quiet and confident. You could wear it to scramble up a hillside or queue for a flat white in Daikanyama.
The collection is divided between two categories: hiking and trail running. Both follow a shared design logic, with familiar pieces rendered in lightweight, waterproof, and often convertible fabrics. Highlights include the Convertible Mountain Pant (£315), the Bucket Hat with built-in sunshield (£110), and a wind jacket that adjusts to conditions (£245). There are accessories too – packs and bags that fit the rhythm.
What sets SOUKUU apart is that it never feels like an exercise in aestheticised mountaineering. It’s a performance line, yes – but with subtlety, and without trying too hard. The shapes are elegant, the colours soft, the intention clear.
The collection is available now at thenorthface.com and through selected stockists globally.
Next up: The OPUMO guide to gorpcore brands.
