At ISPO: GORE-TEX wants to set industry standards for durability

Material and construction are the basis for the longevity of a GORE-TEX® product. However, this lifespan can be significantly extended with the right care and repairs - consumers have a very effective tool for greater sustainability in their own hands. If you wash and dry GORE-TEX® products regularly and renew the DWR, they will maintain their performance for many years. Many functional losses are simply due to infrequent or incorrect washing.

For us, ideal cooperation means that brands and retailers communicate the same simple rules. We provide support with training, POS instructions and care guides. And with the GORE-TEX® Gear Tour, we visit retailers and sporting events such as the Freeride World Tour across Europe every year - where we repair GORE-TEX® products free of charge."

We are constantly developing our technologies, but we were pioneers very early on: for more than 35 years, we have been offering our GUARANTEED TOO KEEP YOU DRY® guarantee of lifetime waterproofness. We have therefore always worked very closely with our brand partners in the design process - for example, when it comes to reducing seams, placing reinforcements sensibly or optimizing laminate structures. After all, that's what we stand for.

On the materials side, we have always seen ourselves as innovators and are constantly pushing the boundaries of what is technically possible. Each new generation of our product technologies must be even more powerful and durable. One example is the new generation of GORE-TEX® Pro product technology, which we have specifically designed for extreme abrasion resistance and long-lasting performance.

This year at ISPO, we are focusing on the topic of durability - an area in which the industry has neither a common definition nor a standardized measurement method. This is precisely where we want to provide impetus.

Very important! As an ingredient brand, we connect brands, retailers, research and consumers - this has been our role from the very beginning. That's why we deliberately designed our ISPO booth as a meeting place for exchange and collaboration.

For us, networking is the basis for innovation. As an ingredient brand, we work very closely with our brand partners - many of these collaborations have been in place for almost 50 years. This trust and shared technical understanding enable us to consistently develop new ideas.

A good example is the new generation of GORE-TEX® Pro product technology for extreme sports such as freeriding or ice climbing. Another is the Invisible Fit product technology, in which the membrane is invisibly integrated into the shoe and therefore cannot be felt. A milestone in the footwear sector, which we naturally developed in close cooperation with our partners.

The boundaries between outdoor, performance and lifestyle are becoming blurred. Accordingly, we now also work with leading fashion and lifestyle labels such as Aimé Leon Dore, Palace, Maharishi and Hoka. In the sneaker sector, partners such as New Balance, Salomon Sportstyle and On are joining us. The share of these brands is growing continuously - a clear sign that functional aesthetics have arrived in everyday life."

No. At the core, we always base our collaboration on our brand values: performance, togetherness, trust and imagination. This results in unique products that meet our high standards. Our holistic quality system - from material and field tests to style approval, design and production consulting and working exclusively with certified factories - ensures that every product meets the same high standard, regardless of the segment.

Fashion and lifestyle brands bring creative energy - bold colors, unusual concepts and new ways of addressing target groups. This perspective can enrich outdoor and performance brands.

Yes - very clearly. OutDoor is becoming more suitable for everyday use, lifestyle brands are integrating technical performance. At the same time, the desire for durable, high-quality and responsibly manufactured products is growing. Both movements reinforce each other: lifestyle brings aesthetics, outdoor brings function, responsibility and durability to everyday life.

It is precisely at this intersection - between style, performance and sustainability - that the GORE-TEX® brand will continue to play a strong role in the future.