The North Face, getting ready to welcome Nicole Otto as its new global brand president this summer to replace the retiring Steve Murray, surpassed $1 billion in quarterly sales for the first time in Q3 with 27 percent global revenue growth to $1.2 billion, parent VF Corp. reported. TNF delivered “significant improvements” in profitability with “strong brand positioning” driving higher quality sales, the company said. All geographic regions reported results ahead of plan with the Americas’ sales up 21 percent. North Face lifestyle footwear sales grew 30 percent in Q3 and the label’s newly launched techwear line of mountain-inspired apparel designed for the city had sellthrough rates of more than 60 percent. Wholesale revenues rose 37 percent in Q3; DTC sales were up 20 percent. With the results, VFC raised its FY22 revenue guidance for the brand to 29-30 percent growth from 27-29 percent.

Meanwhile, at Vans, the brand failed to meet expectations in Q3 despite 8 percent topline expansion and a 54 percent increase in global digital sales. Holiday season results for the brand were described as mixed, largely impacted by a slower-than-forecast recover in Classics footwear and heightened disruption in the China market. The Americas was a highlight as its delivered sequential improvement and the U.S. posting its first growth versus FY20 that was bolstered by approximately 50 percent growth in digital. VFC senior management said the Vans’ team is focused on three drivers—China, plastic footwear and brand heat—to ignite Vans’ results going forward.

Elsewhere at VFC, Timberland sales increased 11 percent in Q3, helped by sellouts with key U.S. retailers and within its own channel and a 48-hour sellout of all Timberland Supreme styles. VFC says it’s pleased with the building momentum at Timberland and confident in the brand’s long-term potential for profitable growth. The Supreme brand delivered nearly $200 million in quarterly sales despite being forced to close retail stores at various times due to the pandemic.

VFC is currently forecasting FY22 total revenue of approximately $11.85 billion, which would equate to 28 percent growth from FY21 and a 13 percent gain over FY20. The annual sales estimate implies a Q4 year-over-year revenue increase of about 10 percent.