In May 2017, when Jason Chen first coined the term “gorpcore” for the fashion magazine website The Cut, he did not define a new trend in clothing aesthetics. On the contrary, he labeled something that had already existed for a while, but no one knew how to describe it in a vague term at the time. The carefree nature of mountaineering and hiking does not align with the motivation of those who wear outdoor gear out on the street; Any wording that explains the origin of this fashion trend, such as explaining the purpose and origin of their attire – like “inspired by outdoor sports” – is too verbose.
What is Gorpcore?
The name Gorpcore comes from the colloquial phrase “Good Ol ‘Raisins and Peanuts”, which is a clothing style that emphasizes practicality, functionality, and outdoor style.
But what exactly constitutes a gorpcore? Countless basic brands have crossed from sports to mainstream, but there are also many that have not yet crossed boundaries. Compared to fashion week participants, hikers and campers have a better understanding of brands that still represent the pinnacle of aesthetic sports. This is a type of clothing that neither belongs to normcore nor Techwear technology clothing, but it is enough to confuse people. Normcore and Techwear will never be confused with Gorpcore, but the opposite is not necessarily true.
(Normcore is a term coined by trend forecasting firm K-Hole, combining Normal and Hardcore. The characteristics of Normcore are simplicity, simplicity, comfort, practicality, and neutrality.)
Elements of Gorpcore Aesthetics
1、 Two color tone trends: bright color scheme and earth color scheme
Gorpcore style clothes are often quite colorful. Traditional camping equipment and jackets often feature bright colors. Purple, orange, green, red, blue, and pink; These bright color schemes are usually difficult to find outside sports goods stores.
This can be traced back to the fascinating colors we discover in nature – blue-green water, verdant forests, pink and purple sunsets, and rainbow like flowers. Since the departure of tech apparel giant Errolson Hugh, Nike’s improved ACG series has reflected this focus on earth tones and retro bright colors.
This may explain why the earth tone is also prominent in Gorpcore. Beige is particularly popular, but rock gray, dark brown, and olive are also popular; These practical colors are crucial for Gorpcore.
That is to say, fashion tends to choose brighter and more energetic styles to a large extent. No matter how colorful you want to dress up, these are clothes designed for the outdoors – inspired by what you see outdoors. This is common sense.
2、 Loose fit
Unlike its cousin Techwear technology clothing, Gorpcore has more close fitting clothing and a wider silhouette. Gorpcore, on the other hand, has a square and loose cut – the pants are wide but not flared; The fleece version is also quite bulky, and the jacket is large enough to hold countless layers of oversized underwear. This is simple: as long as you can provide enough range of activities to comfortably hike, climb mountains, or do anything needed outdoors.
This is another aesthetic quirk of Gorpcore – it is closely related to the oversized design.
3、 Layered layering
Although layering is definitely not unique to Gorpcore – in fact, it plays an important role in every subtype, perhaps except for minimalism – there is definitely a unique aesthetic level.
Many of the classic elements that make up Gorpcore are designed around serving as a clothing layering system; The Summit collection of The North Face is a perfect example, from a bottom t-shirt to a jumpsuit parka, wearing it layer by layer yields the best results.
A down jacket or long jacket with a zipper open, with one fleece inside and the other exposed from inside, is the norm in Gorpcore.
4、 Binding adjustment
Yes, that’s right. Another prominent feature of Gorpcore is the “various types of tied drawstrings and ribbons,” which seems to be completely opposite to the bulky silhouette. Considering these loose contours is primarily for practical reasons. Many jackets have some form of buckle or webbing, which makes sense – if you don’t want to fold them and want the jacket to fit, you will need drawstrings and buckles. Not to mention carrying backpacks for mountaineering or hiking.
In casual occasions (i.e. when not camping or hiking), it has become a habit to tie the rope of the fleece hem or hoodie tightly.
5、 LOGO identification
Like street clothing, logos also play a crucial role in gorpcore. The logo of a large outdoor brand is worn on the sleeves or left chest like an honor badge. In many cases, brands have secondary uses, such as using a large, reflective logo to increase visibility under adverse conditions. The identification of the earth color scheme is not as obvious – for example, some brands’ city series, Arc’teryx’s 24 series.
1、 Breathable underwear layer
Gorpcore’s t-shirts and long sleeved clothing are known for their breathability and comfort. They are usually made of lightweight, moisture absorbing, and antibacterial fabrics, suitable for wearing under fleece clothes or in damp and hot environments, whether it is Merino wool or synthetic fibers.
2、 Wide leg pants
Tight jeans are essentially the opposite of pants that embody Gorpcore aesthetics. Wide leg straight leg and practical pants are Gorpcore’s choice – typically featuring lightweight fabric and multiple pockets. Snow Peak’s fire-resistant pants are a good example, as they have multiple functions (multiple pockets, fire resistance, and environmental friendliness) and are suitable for various wearing scenarios.
3、 Fleece intermediate layer
It can be said that no piece of clothing can better reflect the style of Gorpcore than a fleece jacket. Patagonia’s vintage Synchilla Snap pullover and Retro-X jacket are particularly classic. The middle layer usually has a full length or quarter length zipper, and button style is also common. As Gorpcore penetrates into the mainstream market, high-end fashion brands often focus first on fleece vests and jackets – which proves how important this item is in terms of aesthetics.
4、 Tear resistant rainproof hard shell
Just like almost everything else, the popularity of tear resistance in Gorpcore is based on practicality considerations. Due to the reinforced cross weave design, this fabric can resist tearing well, making it a good choice for those who want to wear loose jackets, as branches or stones can get stuck in the jacket. Lightweight raincoat, can be worn alone in warm weather, or layered over a fleece or down jacket.
5、 Warm jacket
A down jacket is an essential element of Gorpcore, and its popularity may be second only to the fleece middle layer. These jackets are the outermost layer of warm clothing people wear in cold weather. These jackets – like The North Face’s iconic nuts – can now be seen on the streets and in the mountains
Of course, this includes down jackets and synthetic cotton jackets, and it is also common to pair down vests or lightweight down jackets with outerwear – either as a detachable inner layer to form a three in one jacket, or as a standalone outfit.
6、 Socks
Socks are considered an integral part of Gorpcore, which may seem strange, but in a sense, they are more beloved than any other aesthetic movement. In the natural habitats, trails, and camping sites of these clothes, socks usually protrude from the boot cuffs and occasionally wrap around the hem of the pants to prevent insects or dust. Thick and brightly colored socks are almost always displayed in a way and are a key item of Gorpcore.
7、 Backpack
If the answer is yes, backpacks are a must-have item for hiking or camping. From entry-level products to the Visvim 20L backpack priced in thousands of dollars, the backpack is the default accessory of Gorpcore – used for carrying miscellaneous items on weekends and laptops and other work essentials on weekdays.
Generally speaking, Gorpcore combines usability and functionality, making the brand that constitutes aesthetics widely accepted by the public. Of course, this does not mean that the T-platform brand did not utilize Gorpcore aesthetics (the joint product of GUCCI and The North Face is a good example). Usually, these brands will produce a separate series, with Junya Watanabe, Hyke, White Mountaineering, and even Ralph Lauren being good examples in this regard.
Here are some brands labeled with gorpcore.
1、 Patagonia
From Snap Ts to retroxs and then to 5-inch pockets, Patagonia can be said to be the main supplier of sporty basic brand Gorpcore products. Patagonia was originally a climbing equipment brand founded by Yvon Chouinard, and now produces a variety of products from tents to coats.
Patagonian clothing is affordable, durable, and has long been popular among outdoor enthusiasts. As part of the norm core trend, it has truly entered the mainstream market – even though it appears in the form of logo printed t-shirts. In Gorpcore sports, Patagonian products have become more fashionable, including colored wool and shorts. The most authentic proof of Patagonia’s influence on aesthetics is the degree to which its iconic works are cited by fashion avant-garde brands.
2、 Arc’teryx
Although many Arc’teryx styles are more in line with the aesthetic of technology clothing, some of the brand’s styles – designed for autumn, summer, and spring hiking – and shoes are more in line with Gorpcore rather than technology clothing. When it comes to this Canadian brand, we often think of black, gray, and olive green, but there are also many colorful options available.
3、 The North Face
The similarity between The North Face and Patagonia is that they love and kill each other – before entering the clothing industry, they both started with hardware equipment; Their headquarters are all located in California; They all have a fanatical fan base; They are all sought after outside the outdoor community.
Although The North Face is most famous for its down jacket Nuptse jacket, the brand also has a range of other classic works, including the STEEP collection redesigned by Supreme. That is to say, in the Gorpcore community, some less well-known but more technologically advanced products, such as Thermoball Shaket and Summit Series series, are also popular. But what is the most sought after thing? The logo of the brand.
4、 Teva
Do you still remember that socks are an indispensable part of Gorpcore? Okay, socks and sandals are inseparable – no matter what outdated fashion rules say. Lightweight, affordable, and diverse in style, Teva stands out in the world of sandals with a variety of colors and trendy patterns to choose from.
5、 Snow Peak
To some extent, Xuefeng is equivalent to Japan’s Patagonia and TNF. Xuefeng was founded in 1958 and focuses on producing high-quality and high-performance camping and mountaineering equipment. In 2014, the brand launched Xuefeng Clothing and was promoted in Japanese publications such as Go Out. The brand’s clothing is still rooted in pragmatism and functionality – like fire-resistant pants, insulated middle layers, or pocket vests mentioned earlier – but the brand also produces fun and unrestrained graphic T-shirts that draw inspiration from Gorpcore’s outdoor lifestyle.
6、 And Wander
Another Japanese brand promoted by a highly influential magazine in Japan, And Wander, was launched by Keita Ikane and Miko Mori. The aesthetic of this brand is precisely described as “mountaineering clothing that doesn’t look out of place in the city,” and almost all of Gorpcore’s features are reflected in these clothing.
Wander’s lightweight jackets have been particularly popular for many years, and the brand’s simple triangular logo – usually reflective – is becoming increasingly common outside of Japan’s trails and camping sites.
7、 Montbell
Another Japanese brand; The importance and influence of Japanese outdoor brands cannot be underestimated, especially in the field of outdoor clothing. Founded in the 1970s, Montbell first focused on producing high-performance mountaineering and rain gear. Aesthetically similar to Arc’teryx, Montbell is now known for its waterproof casing, down jackets, and handbags.
8、 Battenwear
Shinya Hasegawa made her debut in a thatched cottage under Daiki Suzuki of Woolrich Wool Mills and launched Battenwear in New York City in 2011. Battenwear is significantly different from the brands listed above. Although these costumes may be aesthetically similar, Battenwear does not produce state-of-the-art mountaineering equipment. On the contrary, Battenclear’s inspiration came from sportswear from the 1960s and 1980s – it was one of the few gorpcore brands inspired by lifestyle rather than performance.
9、 Salomon
In recent years, we have witnessed how Salomon walked from the street to the runway, and when it comes to Gorpcore, we cannot help but mention this French brand. Salomon produces the world’s best hiking and off-road running shoes