The north face further Yoga paths, running

* 2012 spring run, yoga more collections

* The running gear of lighters, yogawear technical, casual

* Sales still small but the key to the development of brand

By Phil Wahba

New York, 10 October Reuters)-VF Corp. will get more athletic next spring with the launch of the most extensive lines of clothing for yoga and run under the brand the north face.

The north side, known for outerwear, mountaineers, banking on its reputation for technologically advanced tools to win more customers in these two sports of rapid development.

The move by the north face in more direct competition with the like Nike Inc, Lululemon athletic and under armour Inc., which, like the north face, located in an arms race to improve an athlete with a lighter, more comfortable clothes.

"The consumer is asking us to take this type of solution to the real athlete needs new activities," Todd Spaletto, the north face of the President for the Americas, told Reuters.

Since last December, execution and yoga gear made up of about 40 million dollars to the north side of about 1.5 billion dollars in annual sales. Expansion of the collections each year will be an important part of the VF of the objective of doubling of brand sales by 2015.

The north side of spring collection appears this month in Manhattan showroom mode features, shorts and jackets that are lighter at 10 percent. The collection of Yoga is wider, more technical elements such as shorts designed for the increasingly popular "hot yoga" and casual garments such as Sweatshirts hood for after the workout.

Spaletto said sales of rolling bodies have tripled over five years, helped by meeting retailers, representing a major proportion of the trade mark.

The north face operates some stores its own 63. Sales rose worldwide for the latest quarter 21 percent.

WE HAVE PROMOTED

Execution and yoga are two of the fastest growing sports in the United States.

Some 13 million Americans eventually a road race in 2010, from 9.4 million in 2005, according to the U.S. runs. The national sporting goods Association said the number of Americans who did Yoga 2010 rose by 28.1 percent from a year earlier.

In addition to clothing, the north face sell a small shoe collection, adding the simpler shoes, and competing with brands such as new balance, Saucony. But it is known for sticking to one brand, and even a model for cursors.

"People are brand loyal to the running shoes and wear," said Morningstar analyst Paul Swinand, who follows Nike. "This is going to be a tough road to the north side."

The key to success on the north side will be responsible for any technical advantages of the goods in respect of tough competitors, who also include advanced features, analysts said.

"The north side has a big brand name associated with each type of activity now," said Diana Katz, an analyst with Lazard capital markets. "The north face can promote certain technical aspects that others do not."

The trademark also faces stiff competition in yoga. Lululemon has a blatant and overt violence after more hard-core yogis and okay paying top dollar to wear fashionable yoga.

Gap Inc. is also a further deterioration of yoga. The company intends to have 50 positions of Yoga Athleta amass chain within a few years, from five now.

The north face and even competes with sister company, Lucy Activewear, which has approximately 65 Yoga shops and also owned by VF, largest manufacturer of garments of the world. VF of other brands ranging from Wrangler to Eastpak to seven for all mankind.

Analysts said even development of Yoga means that there is scope for relative newcomers.

"Shoppers want more," said Keybanc capital markets analyst Edward Yruma. "Other companies may also be saying."

Spaletto said the rationale of the north face of thrust into Yoga and run is that many of its customers who ski and climb mountains also run and do yoga.

"We also sell many of our existing customer's activities," said Spaletto.

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