Jackets and footwear that use Gore-Tex material are known for their warmth and ability to keep the user dry.
But, thanks to Seinfeld, they’re also kind of known for their bulkiness.
OK, they aren’t quite Puffy-Jacket-Costanza level, but W.L. Gore & Associates just developed a new material that it says is thinner, lighter and more sustainable.
The new material, ePE, is slated for a fall/winter 2022 release, and will be used by companies like Adidas, Arc’teryx, Salmon, Dakine and Patagonia.
Forbes reported that W.L. Gore & Associates created the material by “combining expanded polyethylene with polyurethane,” which created a waterproof, windproof and breathable material that it says is about half as thick as previous Gore-Tex material.
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“As a material science and innovation organization, we are committed to using our expertise to constantly explore material advancements,” Ross MacLaine, Gore’s global fabrics sustainability leader, told Forbes.
Thinner polyethylene has existed for years, Gore believes that ePE has waterproof, windproof and breathability factors that others don’t. The porous ePE allows vapor to pass through for breathability, but holds out water and wind.
#outdoor Introducing GORE-TEX products with an innovative expanded Polyethylene (ePE) membrane ELKTON, Md. (September 29, 2021)… https://t.co/OCfF9WgZCh pic.twitter.com/Jsi4KjN4Bs
— outdoorinsight (@outdoorsightuk) September 29, 2021
“The membrane material is the functional foundation of a broader system,” Matt Decker, global technical and innovation leader for consumer fabrics at Gore, told Forbes. “It is a microporous material that is a wonderful scaffold as a base material for creating waterproof and breathable fabrics.”
From a sustainability standpoint, ePE is a statement piece for Gore, creating a material without PFC’s of Environmental Concern thanks to non-fluorinated materials.
The thinner profile, comfort features and environmentally-friendly construction will make ePE appealing to eco-conscious shoppers looking for a warm jacket that doesn’t make them look like Frank Constanza got a good deal for them.
Sustainability is the name of the game in apparel these days, but end-users don’t want to sacrifice quality and features for a smaller carbon footprint. With this development, Gore delivers both simultaneously.
