Those familiar with Patagonia's history know about Chouinard Equipment (today Black Diamond), an alpine gear brand that initially operated from a garage and was handcrafted by climbing enthusiasts in their spare time. Patagonia faced initial years of setbacks, indicating that the market wasn't quite ready at that time. Yet, Yvon Chouinard managed to identify and successfully address the pain points of hikers and climbers. From a garage operation, Patagonia has grown into a $3 billion company.

Simultaneously, while La Sportiva's revenue grew from $96 million in 2016 to $156 million in 2021, and the American company Keen surged from $240 million in 2011 to $320 million in 2022, both companies faced supply chain and manufacturing line issues during the COVID-19 pandemic.

Observing this growth, luxury fashion houses like Gucci, Jacquemus, Moncler, Chloe, and many others haven't overlooked the trend and have incorporated GorpCore elements into their collections, emphasizing practicality and functionality. Collaborations, style borrowing, and celebrity endorsements are used as focal points in their collections.

• Today, GorpCore has become an integral part of new collections by luxury brands.

Let's be honest: GorpCore style emerged from the desire to own rare/luxury items from outdoor brands. These are rare models and brands worth pursuing. Collaborations with various creatives are highly valued. People queue up or pay significantly more in the resale market for these items.

GORPCORE BRANDS

Like any subculture, GorpCore offers a full range of price segments, from more mass-market to niche brands, with limited drops. The most popular today are La Sportiva, Patagonia, Mammut, The North Face, Arc'teryx, Salomon, Fjällräven, Keen. Among the niche brands are Goldwin, Roa, Diemme, And Wander, Gramicci, Snow Peak, and many others.

• However, we're familiar with examples of major brands, such as Crocs, releasing a full line in GorpCore style, like the ALL-TERRAIN ATLAS CLOG.

Major brands often seek the most precise path to reach their target audience. GorpCore has always been and will remain a subculture for the select few. Due to their size, major brands aim to shape this subculture through collaborations with niche brands. This has given rise to a conveyor belt of collaborations, which we practically see every week.

Some collaborations have made significant waves, such as Gucci x The North Face, Hoka x Nicole Mclaughlin, Merrell x Dime, Arcteryx x Beams Range, and numerous other big brands eager to collaborate with new, vibrant, and authentic brands.

The undeniable advantage of GorpCore is functionality. Modern technologies such as Gore-Tex (as mentioned in the article GORE-TEX FOOTWEAR: A HISTORY OF INNOVATION, Polartec, Vibram, and others ensure reliable protection in any weather conditions — be it Lithuanian rain or Norwegian winds.

However, there are limitations, especially in pricing. Quality is often reflected in a high price tag; therefore, a jacket can easily cost you 500 euros, and footwear around 200 euros, competing with mid-luxury level offerings.

The GorpCore subculture also encourages the fight against excessive consumption by promoting high quality and durability of products. You've probably come across Instagram accounts dedicated to reselling Arcteryx, The North Face, Salomon, etc. Simultaneously, there are young individuals under 20 eagerly lining up at Humana's doors once a month before restocking.

Likewise, your La Sportiva boots might lose their allure faster than they wear out. In such cases, the solution is simple—selling through online platforms like Vinted, Veister Collection, Depop, and others.

First and foremost, GorpCore is more than just a style. It's a subculture with its own communities, habits, customs, brands, and, of course, style.

Today, GorpCore isn't part of the outdoor industry or fashion; it represents a balanced and sustainable lifestyle that respects nature and our place within it.