Comfort is when something doesn't need adjustment, it simply moves with you and makes you feel confident as you go about your day.
GORE-TEX Studio: This one is getting harder and harder these days - but how would you describe yourself in 1 sentence max?
Romany Williams: I'm a dog person, a Cancer through-and-through, a fashion editor, a nature lover, and most importantly, a mom.
GORE-TEX Studio: Tell us a bit about your city’s climate. What are your three favorite spots - in the summer, in the winter (outside)? What is your favorite method of transportation and why? How do you prep for bad weather if you spend time outside?
Romany Williams: I live in the Pacific Northwest, on the coast of BC, Canada. The climate here is very wet, with moderate temperatures and lots of grey skies.
It's so hard to choose three favorite spots because it's so beautiful here. If I had to choose, my favorite summer spot is Thormanby Island, my favorite winter spot is probably Whistler, and my favorite places to visit in general are Vancouver Island, the Gulf Islands, and the Sunshine Coast.
My favorite method of transportation will always be my 90s GT bike. Nothing in the world beats riding a bike. It's the best feeling ever, the freedom, the ease, the exercise. No negative environmental effects - buy used!
If I'm riding my bike on a rainy day, I always prep by wearing my GORE-TEX gear: a shell, a bucket hat, and GORE-TEX boots. Second to bicycles, dirt bikes are very fun transportation, too!
GORE-TEX Studio: Tell us a bit about your professional life and do you draw a hard line between private/professional? What were your most memorable moments professionally, your biggest achievements?
Romany Williams: I'm an editor at SSENSE, where I do all sorts of things, from pitching and editing stories to styling editorials, to working with my team on our bi-annual magazine. Now that I'm a parent, I definitely draw a line between private & professional.
As for memorable career moments, I'd say travelling to Japan (pre-covid) to write multiple stories was an incredible experience that I'm super grateful for.
GORE-TEX Studio: What are you wearing today, why are you wearing it, did you have a particular weather scenario in mind when choosing this piece? What do you love most about your GORE-TEX product?
Romany Williams: Rain is usually the number one weather scenario I have in mind when getting dressed. I'm lucky enough to work from home so I usually wear something warm and comfortable, and then throw on a GORE-TEX shell and boots when it's time to get outside and walk the dog or pick up my son from daycare.
GORE-TEX Studio: Where and when did you get this… Do you have any special memories connected to this item? If you could go anywhere, where would you like to take this piece?
Romany Williams: My favorite GORE-TEX item is a vintage USGI ECWCS Parka. ECWCS stands for Extended Cold Weather Clothing System. The pattern is M81 Woodland camo. According to my research, they started making these jackets in the mid 1980s and stopped around 2006.
I found it on Ebay in 2017 and have lots of special memories connected to it. I used to live in Montreal and wore it in -40c winters there. Now that I'm back home in BC, it's keeping me dry everyday. It's oversized which I love, it still fit me when I was pregnant, and it covers my thighs so that my legs don't get soaked in the rain. The brim on the adjustable hood keeps the rain out of my eyes when I'm riding my bike. This jacket has kept me comfortable through so much! This one is made in the USA as well, which is extra special. I particularly love vintage items because they have a story and they don't contribute to the new production cycle. GORE-TEX technology is so solid that it can withstand years of use. I love that you can see the faded GORE-SEAM logo on the taped seams inside the jacket.
If I could go anywhere, I'd love to take this piece to Iceland, or on a snowboard trip to the mountains in Japan.
GORE-TEX Studio: How do you define the term “comfort” in clothing, in particular technical apparel?
Romany Williams: I think an item of clothing is comfortable when you're not aware of it. Technical apparel in particular, should perform its intended function without constant intervention from the user. Comfort is when something doesn't need adjustment, it simply moves with you and makes you feel confident as you go about your day.
GORE-TEX Studio: Tell us about your current and upcoming projects… what are you looking for in the next six months and what challenges do you see that you’re excited about?
Romany Williams: These days it's hard to know what the future will bring, but I'm looking forward to continuing to amplify the super talented creatives in our network, and providing them with a platform to express their point of view.
