Invented in 1969, Gore-Tex is a veritable triple-threat. A durable fabric composed of stretched polytetrafluoroethylene (PTFE), more commonly known as Teflon, the lightweight multitasker repels liquid, whilst simultaneously allowing water vapour to pass through it. You’re probably familiar with seeing the Gore-Tex logo on seasonal outerwear or rugged boots, but the versatile material is also used for medical treatments, making surgeons lives easier and soft tissue repair less demanding.  

Gore-Tex’s relationship with streetwear dates back to ’80s; the company began to use streetwear-style boots and trench coats in their US advertising. The brand’s official collaborative output began in 2011 when tech-precise labels such as Nanamica, Acronym and Arc’teryx Veilance began experimenting with the fabric. In time, more relaxed, aesthetically-led collabs began to emerge when brands such as Supreme, Palace and Stussy released Gore-Tex infused outerwear a few years later.

A key component in Gore-Tex’s high-profile streetwear collabs is Beinghunted, a berlin-based consultancy. The creative agency is the driving force behind some of the brand’s iconic releases. 

Fast forward to 2019: Gore-Tex has become a functional lifestyle essential and a formidable force in streetwear, with a super-visible profile. Here’s to four more decades of zeitgeist collabs and technical precision.