Gorpcore Sets the Path to Sustainability
Trendy guys are wearing technical outdoor gear from brands like Arcteryx and The North Face. While looking like they could climb Mount Everest, they show the youth how sustainable shopping can work.
Top of the morning,
Usually I would talk about my coffee at this point. But last week, a friend of mine moaned about my entry topic of choice. For this reason, I will refrain from feeding you details from my coffee cup for once.
Instead, we will talk about a phenomenon that we have all probably observed. Every time I meet up with my friends to have a beer and stroll through the bars of the city, someone appears as if he would climb a mountain. Arcteryx jackets, hiking boots, Klättermusen bags have become an integral part of my day-to-day life. Gorpcore has arrived in the mainstream.
So-called Gorpcore, which stands for the trail-mix acronym that’s short for «good ol' sultanas and peanuts», is a fusion of outdoor gear and everyday men's fashion. Part of the trend are the technical parkas and backpacks one wears while nibbling nuts and dried fruit on a mountain hike. However, instead of being worn in the mountains, they are worn on the streets of the world's hip cities, usually in combination with the latest sneakers from Asics and New Balance.
A trend that raises many questions and splits opinions. Whether you're a Gorpcore lover or hate the look of the mackintoshes, these young men with their unusual clothing habits are showing the youngest generation how sustainable shopping really works.
Buy Garms That Last
As we all know, trends pass, and soon no one will probably go to bars wearing outdoor clothes. But this does not mean that Gorpcore will disappear anytime soon. After all, the clothes that have become the focus of attention as a result of the trend have been produced in exactly the same way for years. Gorpcore did not emerge from a young innovative designer. On the contrary, the garments have existed for decades in exactly the same design. Only until now, outdoor jackets were produced only for hikers, climbers and skiers.
However, thanks to the Gorpcore trend, Arcteryx, The North Face and the like have gained a new target group. Whether this is good or not for the brand, will be seen in the future. Some people already raised their voices and complained that the quality of the outdoor brands suffer from the trend.
Nevertheless, I have talked with some friends about the hyped XT-6 sneaker from Salomon. Constantly, the owners of the shoe have emphasized how qualitatively good the sneaker is. So it is clear, even if the quality of the brand suffers from the hype, the products of outdoor brands are still better than seasonal fashion pieces. For our society, it implies a rethinking in the subconscious. After decades of being influenced by fast fashion brands, the young generation is learning to appreciate quality clothing for the first time.
A Trend at the Right Time
Considering the shopping behavior of Generation Z, it was necessary for Gorpcore to establish itself in the mainstream. This generation has an unhealthy relationship with sustainable clothing: Even though the topic is omnipresent among the youth, it appears that a large part of the generation falls for fast fashion brands. This is because they think they are dependent on the prices and offers of fast fashion giants like Zara, Shein or H&M.
However, the Gorpcore trend shows that by buying quality clothing, the large purchase quantities can be minimized. Clearly, Salomon, North Face and Patagonia are in a different price range than fast fashion houses. However, the pieces of the outdoor brands are also wearable over several seasons. Thus it becomes apparent that the Gorpcore trend is the right way to a healthy relationship to fashion and clothes. Generation Z should be straight up adapting their desire for a sustainable world to their fashion behavior and recognizing ways to dress more sustainably.
Certainly, $270 jackets are not the solution to the problem of sustainable fashion — but fans of Gorpcore can show the Generation Z how to make sustainable purchases through quality fashion.
Love,
Pascal