SIX STORIES OF GORE-TEX PRODUCTS VOL. 3
The Six Stories series highlights GORE-TEX's partnerships with some of the world's most innovative apparel and footwear brands.
PORTRAYING PARTNERS AND PRODUCTS
Volume 3 highlighted the spirit of creative collaboration, as seen in the strong relationships that the GORE-TEX brand has forged with innovative companies around the world. It featured the cooperation of the GORE-TEX brand with Arc’teryx Veilance, ASICS Tiger, Camper, Converse, Stone Island and The North Face Purple Label & nanamica / Goldwin & The North Face Japan.
The performance, functionality, quality and comfort at the heart of the GORE-TEX brand has been inspiring iconic collaborations for more than 40 years. From the continuous refinement of classic North American, outdoors-inspired style to the boundary-pushing, fabric-led casual-wear that swept through Europe and Japan in recent decades, GORE-TEX product technology has been there to provide crucial ingredients in both the creative and manufacturing processes.
Veilance applies GORE-TEX fabric technology to provide performance benefits as an exterior shell – an integral part in our layering system. When we look at a material, we don’t just think about how it looks and feels, but how it performs. Both are the experience we want to create.
Around the world, but especially in Tokyo, the GORE-TEX brand is very popular and its myth is greatest as a cultural icon. The use of GORE-TEX product technology has not only improved function, but also raised the “fashion culture” value in my experience.
End use, sustainability and quality, are intrinsic in the development of our products, so it was a natural conclusion that we should work with GORE-TEX product technology.
Functionality is always important. It’s been central to our brand from our earliest days making rubber boots, and while we have certainly changed with the times, it’s still an essential factor in our design decisions. So, when we have the opportunity to add more functionality and versatility while maintaining our focus on style, like we did with our GORE-TEX fabric technology collaboration, it’s a win-win.
It has been a very long-standing relationship, a great adventure that began over fifteen years ago. My company was the first to garment dye GORE-TEX products. The aim was to have non-technical materials in beautiful colors bearing the benefits of the GORE-TEX membrane.
Combining a classic sportswear style with trusted GORE-TEX fabric technol- ogy works well. Wearers want the best of both – a piece they have worn and experienced before that now also offers protection against the elements. We have worked with Gore since the beginning of our company and look forward to seeing what we can achieve together in the future.