Techwear: What It Is & How to Style It

The term "techwear" has been making the rounds for quite a few years now. While it is normally associated with all-black fits that have earned somewhat of a cult following, in essence, the term techwear is used to describe clothing that is made with breathability, durability, and functionality in mind, hence the name "technical wear". A style that became widely prominent during the early 2010s in Asian countries like Japan and South Korea, techwear has slowly but surely seeped its way into Western culture around 2015, cementing itself as a chapter in streetwear history that definitely should not be overlooked.

Techwear is short for 'technical wear' a style and type of clothing that is categorised by functionality and high-quality technical materials. From explorers of concrete jungles to explorers of actual jungles, techwear is a style that can be adopted by absolutely anyone.

Within a techwear outfit you'd normally find a heavy use of layering. Whether its thick hoodies, rugged cargo pants, or waterproof outerwear, these can all be found in a classic techwear ensemble.

Over the past few decades, the trend has touched upon various subcultures and tribes. Errolson Hugh of ACRONYM offers up a wide range urban ninja-inspired pieces, while Yohji Yamamoto settles for something a little more simple, sleek, and minimalist. With all that said, a lot of people around the 2010s began combining the techwear style with a cyberpunk feel, resulting in a look that, while not as adaptable, boasts a unique post apocalyptic aesthetic that's made to turn heads. While it might feel like this is going against the classic techwear look, it just goes to show how versatile it can be.

Technology plays a major role with techwear, with Gore-Tex featuring on loads of piece from labels such as Arc’teryx and Veilance. Invented all the way back in 1969 by Wilbert L. Gore and his son Robert W. Gore, the material features a thin, porous membrane that was specially designed to be water resistant. Originally created for military use, the lightweight and waterproof textile quickly made its way from the trenches to the runways as various techwear brands and fashion brands began to adopt it.

If your techwear piece isn't using Gore-Tex, then it will probably feature HyVent or H2No which were developed by The North Face and Patagonia as direct competitors to GT. While these definitely are not as well known they continue to play a large part in the fashion trend.

As discussed already, water resistance is definitely a priority for this stealthy style, but as the trend begins to become increasingly popular more technologies are being developed to suit the unique sense of style. For instance, various brands have already created fabrics which provide odour resistance and abrasion proof properties, while others specialise in pockets, straps, zips, and taped seams. Of course, you just cannot talk about tech without mentioning Massimo Osti, who is arguably the godfather of techwear - even though he probably did not mean to be.

Born in 1944 in Bologna, the Italian garment engineer and fashion designer started out creating military clothing and workwear. Famous for his ingenious apparel innovations including garment dyeing and the world renowned 1987 Ice Jacket that changed colour depending on the temperature. These might sound like things that you would find on a sci-fi flick, but these high-end technical fabric later made their way to a few of Osti's business ventures, including Stone Island and C.P. Company, to name a few.

While it is more than easy to produce waterproof outerwear that changes colourway, it is also important to note that techwear needs to be comfortable. Brands like ACRONYM have spent years and years studying the human body to ensure that every single crease and cuff is placed in the perfect place for freedom of movement. Wearers need to be able to run and climb without compromise. To refine this, the German techwear clothing brand studied the movements of martial artists which ended up inspiring a lot of their T-shirts, joggers, and softshell and hardshell parkas. These are just a few instances of how techwear has accelerated innovations in the streetwear space, and it is certainly not stopping anytime soon.

In general, techwear clothing is considerably more expensive compared to its "normal" counterparts, but that is because it places a huge emphasis on high end materials that are supposed to last an entire lifetime. However, as the techwear look becomes more and more popular, loads of brands are trying to produce pieces with lower price tags. This means that a lot more streetwear fans can take part in the fashion trend without having to shell out beaucoup bucks. While they may compromise on high end materials, they retain the same look that we all know and love.

As mentioned before, techwear only started becoming increasingly sought after during the mid-2010s. According to Google Trends, the term began gaining a little bit of search volume around May 2016. This would slowly increase until January 2021 when it shot up to its highest point in history. This just goes to show how much demand there is for this fashion trend, and with this, many brands have started catering especially for streetwear loves who love functionality and water resistance.

ACRONYM is a German techwear clothing brand that was founded by Errolson Hugh and Michaela Sachenbac in 1994. Over the next few years, the label evolved from a fully-fledged design consultancy to one of the most elusive techwear brands in the industry. This evolution was inspired by their work with outdoor brands such as Protective and Burton Snowboards. Dropping everything, the power duo began to focus all their time and energy on creating sportswear with a technical edge, and the rest is history.

adidas Terrex is one of the world's most renowned mountaineering brands. The brainchild of adidas founder Adi Dassler, it started its life as adidas Outdoors and focused on creating sportswear clothing with high tech materials that protected you from both the sizzling sun and dangerous downpours. While this Three Stripes sub-division originally started making hiking boots, their clothing is now equally as iconic as their footwear options.

Arc’teryx was founded in 1989 in climber Dave Lane's basement. Over the next three decades it would go on to take over the streetwear scene with its techwear clothing with over eighty locations across the globe and 1,200 employees. Renowned for their waterproof and windproof pieces, the great thing about Arc’teryx is the casual styling that you can rock anywhere you want. This British Colombia-based label doesn't place a whole lot of emphasis on techwear aesthetics, but that does not mean they compromise on innovation either.

Nike ACG is, hands down, one of the biggest players in the techwear game. Standing for All Conditions Gear, the Swoosh sub-division was established in 1989. Just like adidas Terrex, the Beaverton brand began creating hiking footwear for mountaineers but very quickly became a mainstay in the fashion and streetwear worlds thanks to collaborations with brands such as ACRONYM and COMME des GARÇONS. NikeLab is also worth mentioning as it is a speciality line that focuses on creating highly technical clothing that you won't find anywhere else.

If you're looking for high-quality pieces for getting in to techwear which don't break the bank, Nike ACG is definitely worth checking out!

Stone Island is the brainchild of Italian garment engineer and fashion designer Massimo Osti. Founded in 1982, it was initially meant to be a secondary line to complement his principal brand C.P. Company. The future held different plans for him though as Stoney quickly became a leader in the techwear game, producing countless innovations such as the Raso Gommato, thermosensitive fabric, Rubber Wool, and reflective fabric. Many of these were released under the Stone Island Shadow Project division which has a considerably higher price tag and is a lot more exclusive.

The North Face is undoubtedly one of the biggest outdoor brands in history and it is making its way into the techwear space thanks to the Black Label series and coveted collaborations with imprints like Supreme and BEAMS. Created over five decades ago in 1968, their logo draws inspiration from the Half Dome in Yosemite National Park harkening back to their roots.

The Arc’teryx Atom SL Nylon Hooded Jacket is built to withstand extreme weather. With a lightweight nylon construction, the outer layer is infused with Tyono 20 for added water resistance and windproof properties. While it may look light, the Coreloft insulation means you can keep warm even when its wet and rainy. This is exactly what techwear is all about - an insane amount of functionality but versatility that is off the charts.

A future classic, the Nike ACG Gore-Tex Misery Ridge Shell Jacket may seem a little crazy when it comes to techwear standards, but believe me when I say that it definitely fits the bill. Painted in a wild colour palette, don't let its appearance fool you as this is full of innovations. From the Gore-Tex membrane to the oversized zipped fastenings, the outerwear piece is even made from 100% recycled polyester fibres so it's extra sustainable too.

The big daddy of TNF outerwear options, the The North Face Lhotse Down Jacket is named after the fourth highest mountain in the world. Perfectly water resistant and insulated, this high quality menswear piece is made for both the peaks and the streets. A quilted design lets you stay extra warm while front zips help you trap any precious heat. You'll also find long sleeves that are adorned with velcro fastenings so you can customise your fit to your heart's content. This is techwear at its finest.

All of us here at The Sole Supplier are passionate about making sure you find your next favourite pickup. Whether thats shoes or clothing, we want to make sure you find the ideal product to suit your needs.

When deciding the best techwear brands we were just as thorough as we are when recommending products. We researched a variety of different brands based on their quality of products, their ethos, customer reviews and much more. Our selections were decided by various members of our staff to make sure we could offer a diverse range of brands which would suit anyone from someone just getting into techwear to experts of the style.

Want to learn more about streetwear? Then The Sole Supplier is the place to be. We've created various guides for you to check out so you can up your wardrobe game! If you want this season's hottest hoodies and joggers then check out some of our favourites down below. These will be perfect for any techwear fit!