What Is Gorpcore?

If you’re a close follower of trends in the world of fashion, you might have noticed the increasing presence of outdoor clothing amongst those in the know. When we reference “outdoor clothing”, we’re specifically talking about functional garments that are created for use when hiking, running, skiing, climbing and other similar activities. Brands such as Arc’teryx, andWander and Salomon have recently shot into the limelight and are now favoured by tastemakers across the world.

Outdoor clothing and techwear has easily become one of the biggest trends in modern-day fashion, with high-end labels even referencing the trend across fashion week runways. After looking into global search behaviour, we discovered that Google searches for the term “gorpcore” increased by a phenomenal 211% in the past year. But what exactly is gorpcore? Join us here at The Sole Supplier as we take a deep-dive into the world of this fast-growing trend.

To explain it literally, gorpcore comes from the abbreviation “gorp”, which stands for “good old raisins and peanuts”, a popular snack for hikers and trail runners. The term gorpcore now characterises the style movement that has been built off the back of the outdoor clothing trend. The term was first coined all the way back in 2017, but has only recently become prominent and known within the industry. The lines that define gorpcore aren’t exactly crystal clear, but the trend lies somewhere in between the popular streetwear and traditional techwear margins.

Think waterproof jackets, hiking sneakers, utilitarian cargo trousers and you’ve pretty much defined a gorpcore outfit. Often heavily reliant on the technology used (GORE-TEX is a fine example), this clothing was originally developed for those tackling some of the harshest environments and terrains on earth, however, in the present day you don’t have to walk too far in the fashion district of any capital city to spot this type of gear being rocked by fashion fans both young and old.

Trends don’t always arise from a specific place, as more often than not lesser-known brands are worn by tastemakers, with celebrities and influencers eventually catching on, then exposing them to the wider public audience. This is likely what happened at the start of the gorpcore movement, with industry-insiders and relevant figures starting to appreciate outdoor clothing more in early 2017. Just two years later in 2019, Frank Ocean was pictured wearing both Arc’teryx and Mammut, two hugely important outdoor brands. This was perhaps the trend’s first exposure to the mainstream.

In September 2020 another spike in interest occurred, with many streetwear influencers swapping out city streets for outdoor hikes after the COVID-19 pandemic. While hiking and climbing was once a far-cry from sneakers and streetwear, it seemed that these two communities were now forged closer together than ever before. Fast forward to January 2022 and gorpcore is one of the hottest topics around. Spurred on by unexpected social media growth such as the TikTok Arc’teryx trend (pouring water onto the GORE-TEX fabric for a satisfying run-off effect) which gained a staggering 200 million views, gorpcore is now firmly in the limelight and it looks like it’s here to stay. Luxury fashion labels have even cottoned onto the trend, with collaborations such as The North Face x Gucci and Arc’teryx x Jil Sander proving incredibly popular.

There are plenty of different brands that fall under the gorpcore umbrella, however Arc’teryx clothing, especially Arc'teryx outerwear, is arguably the driving force behind the trend. The Canadian outerwear brand has been producing high-quality outdoor and climbing gear since 1989, and even has a specific range developed exclusively for military and law enforcement personnel (Arc’teryx LEAF)! Another brand responsible for helping propel the trend to new heights is none other than Salomon, the label behind the XT-6 and the The North Face, two of the most popular sneakers for gorpcore followers. Based in France, Salomon has been operating since way back in 1947 and was founded in the heart of the French Alps, quickly establishing itself as a mainstay in skiing, snowboarding and alpine climbing culture.

Of course, when talking about gorpcore, it’s hard to ignore the prominence held by undefined, a brand that’s been popular amongst streetwear fans well before this newfound hype. Offering up collaborations with the likes of Supreme NYC, Mastermind and even Braindead, was TNF gorpcore before the trend even existed? Last but definitely not least, it’s only right that we mention Patagonia, one of the most iconic outdoor clothing labels of all time. The Californian-based brand is known for its climbing apparel and sustainable business model and remains increasingly popular today, acting as one of the key players in the gorpcore movement.

Overall, it’s been one hell of a ride for gorpcore and 2022 looks to be it’s biggest year yet. What started as an if-you-know-you-know fad has transformed into a global trend that’s been propelled to unexpected heights by social media, with global brands joining the hype-train and further solidifying the value that gorpcore holds. Whether you’re a seasoned outdoor clothing fan or totally new to the scene, there’s never been a better time to throw on your Arc’teryx jacket and head on out to explore the great outdoors. You can browse all of the latest and greatest products from the likes of Salomon, The North Face and Arc’teryx right here at The Sole Supplier, so be sure to keep it locked in.

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