Material guide – GORE-TEX®

GORE-TEX® material was brought on the market by the W.L. Gore & Associates company and manufactured for the first time in 1972. Just four years later in 1976, the W.L. Gore & Associates company received their first order to manufacture rainwear. Although GORE-TEX® is now primarily known as a material for functional clothing, it was formerly used for other purposes. The material was used, among other things, for clothing worn by an international research team in the Antarctic. GORE-TEX® fibres were also made into functional workwear.

How the material is made

GORE-TEX® is a fibre which initially consists of one membrane. This has a very thin coating, which is made of stretched polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE). The enormous number of small pores in the membrane give the GORE-TEX® its special waterproof properties, because the raindrops cannot penetrate through the fine pores. During the next stage, the membrane is connected to an inner layer and an upper material, in order to be able to process it further. This combination of materials is then called the GORE-TEX® laminate, a composition that has the special, typical features that make GORE-TEX® so versatile.

What GORE-TEX® can do

First and foremost is the waterproofing, which guarantees that you will stay dry in heavy rainfall. GORE-TEX® is also a wind-repellent material, so that even a cold gust of wind cannot penetrate through. The high level of breathability is particularly useful for sporting activities. Moisture is able to wick to the outside while the body remains dry.

In addition to clothing, there are also shoes with GORE-TEX® content. When washing, you should take care to only lightly spin the item and clean it with just a little liquid detergent. It is not recommended to use powder detergents, fabric softeners or anti-stain or bleaching agents, as these can impair the GORE-TEX® functionality. In order to maintain the water-repellent function after washing, you will need to first dry the item of clothing. When this is done, it should be dried for approx. 20 minutes in the tumble dryer to re-activate the water-repellent surface.

Maintain the level of protection

After you have had the product for some time, it is advisable to renew the impregnation using a special care product, as the protection does not last forever. When waterproofing, you should avoid oils that claim they are waterproof. The reason for this being that these oils can impair the breathability of the item. You should therefore only use special shoe creams and impregnating agents.

In conclusion, GORE-TEX® is perfect for functional and outdoor sportswear. This is because the practical GORE-TEX® functions prove to be extremely beneficial in a sporting environment. Thanks to its waterproof function, GORE-TEX® is also perfect for everyday wear as it protects you from heavy rain showers and keeps you dry.