Teaming up for success: 33 years of a Schöffel-GORE-TEX partnership

For the 40th birthday of the GORE-TEX brand, we will take you on an enjoyable look back at special partnerships in the outdoor industry. A long-time partner is the Schöffel brand, manufacturer of performance ski and outdoor apparel. Schöffel has been at our side now for 33 years and thus really almost since the beginning.

From sock manufacturer to high-tech apparel

The story of the Schöffel brand began in 1804 with Georg Schöffel, purveyor of stockings from Schwabmünchen. He launched the brand, today more than 200 years old, with the manufacturing of stockings, socks, nightcaps and Swabian pointy stocking caps. The textile trade was expanded with each generation. The small town of Schwabmünchen, then a knitting stronghold, was about 30 kilometres (18.6 miles) south of Augsburg and is still today the headquarters of the family-run company.

On to new summits: Hubert Schöffel believes in GORE-TEX

  The likeable Huber Schöffel, businessman and 6th-generation company partner, took a new direction in 1960 and built a modern apparel company. Since he himself loved the mountains and outdoor sport, he recognised the need for performance outdoor apparel. Within two years, he shifted the focus of the complete range to sports. The experiment was a success: In 1972, Schöffel was already producing 270,000 pairs of “knee breeches,” or short trousers fastened below the knee.

“I am the soul of fabrics. My name: GORE-TEX” – advertisement wording from the ‘80s

Technical fabrics were particularly in demand in the early ‘80s. “I recognised immediately that the Gore company was going to be a revolution in jackets”, recalls the senior boss. After a few early difficulties and some defective garments among the first products, the new partnership became a true success with its close cooperation and mutual vision. The first jacket was called “Tibet” – and it kicked off the race to the summit. As early as 1984, Schöffel already had a waiting list for its new products with GORE-TEX technology. “In 1985, at Christmas, we ran out of inventory because there wasn’t one single piece left in the warehouse”, he recounts. See for yourself as senior manager Hubert Schöffel takes us on a journey through time:

Today, his son Peter Schöffel leads the company now in its seventh generation, furthering the success story of the long-time partnership. “Even after 30 years, the business always demands creativity”, says Peter Schöffel. “The results are premium innovative products such as the new GORE-TEX ZipIn! line. Strong products will also come about in the future from our strong partnership!”

#GORETEX40: Be a part and be a winner!

We are celebrating our 40th birthday, and everybody is invited! What has been your most fantastic moment in recent years? Share it with us on Facebook, Twitter or Instagram with the hashtag #GORETEX40. Every week, we will give away great prizes. Find all the details here: www.gore-tex.co.uk/goretex40