Outdoor meets fashion - 7 trends how gorpcore and mountaincore are influencing the sports industry

Gorpcore and Mountaincore show: Clothing must not only be functional, but also visually appealing. Colors, cuts and choice of materials are now just as important as performance. Outdoor clothing is becoming increasingly urban and fashionable. This presents an enormous opportunity for the sports industry. After all, those who manage to combine fashion awareness and performance will not only win over sports enthusiasts, but also fashion-conscious city dwellers.

Outdoor brands, which were previously mainly worn by athletes, are now also popular with fashion enthusiasts who previously had no contact with outdoor sports to do . The main selling point is not just function, but also fashionable looks that make them attractive to a new target group. For the sports business, this means tapping into fresh markets, especially in urban areas, and appealing to a fashion-conscious clientele.

The demand for collaborations between sports and fashion brands is growing rapidly. Brands such as Salomon, The North Face and Arc'teryx are increasingly finding their place in streetwear collections by combining their functional outdoor clothing with fashionable design. For the sports industry, such collaborations offer a great opportunity to draw attention to themselves and expand their reach.

Retail is becoming increasingly experience-oriented: climbing walls in stores, pop-ups for product testing, individual advice stations and material bars where consumers can touch and try out products - all of these innovative concepts are changing the shopping experience. In addition, repair & reuse zones in stores and at pop-ups such as Patagonia offer new opportunities for more personal and intensive customer loyalty. The store is becoming an experience space in which not only products can be purchased, but also the values and philosophy of the brand can be experienced directly. This development opens up opportunities for the sports industry to strengthen customer loyalty, communicate its own brand identity more clearly and make shopping a unique experience.

The demand for experience-oriented and target group-oriented shopping experiences is growing. Trade shows are also playing an increasingly important role in bringing the latest trends and innovations to life. ISPO offers a platform where brands can not only present their latest products and ideas, but also get in direct contact with consumers. After all, personal interaction is also playing an increasingly important role for retailers. It is therefore important to actively strengthen these connections. With offers such as the Zeitgeist Area or 520M by Highsnobiety, the event will be a meeting place for everyone who wants to experience the latest developments and designs in the sports and fashion industry live. For sports businesses, this is a valuable opportunity to emphasize their relevance and position themselves as trendsetters.

In an interview with Highsnobiety, Frederik Sturm, five-time ISPO Award winner and CEO of ARYS, explains:

In the fashion industry, we often say it's so difficult to enter because there are thousands of brands. But in this niche, there is a big potential for younger brands to really become strong and powerful

Gorpcore has permanently changed the way in which functionality and fashion are combined. It is not only the visual features that are particularly influential for this trend, but also the underlying values: Sustainability, durability and versatility. More and more consumers are looking for products that are not only aesthetically pleasing, but also remain functional and versatile over a long period of time. For example, around a third of respondents in the Attitude Compass 2025 state that environmental protection plays an important role for them when evaluating a brand.

Dr. Regina Henkel, textile journalist and ISPO Award Jury Member confirms this:

Versatility and durability are on trend. Retailers are looking for products that the user can wear or use in many different situations.

The look is arousing interest: thanks to the gorpcore trend, outdoor activities such as hiking and trail running are becoming increasingly popular. What started out as a fashion statement is increasingly becoming an active leisure activity. People are getting out of the city and discovering nature, using their outdoor clothing and gradually equipping themselves with the right gear. In this way, fashion-conscious outdoor clothing could also make a positive contribution to combating the global lack of physical activity. The WFSGI Physical Activity Impact Report 2025 puts it in a nutshell: it's about creating products that bring more movement into people's lives. At the same time, the ISPO report "THE FUTURE OF SPORT, HEALTH & RETAIL 2025" shows that almost 90% of respondents expect the sports industry to take on more responsibility in the area of health. This offers the industry a valuable opportunity to respond to this growing demand and develop products that are both functional and aesthetically pleasing.