GORPCORE

Gorpcore is a style that carries hiking and mountaineering gear into the everyday urban wardrobe. The name (coined in 2017 by Jason Chen in The Cut) blends 'normcore' with 'gorp', a name for trail mix of nuts and dried fruit; the expansion 'Good Old Raisins and Peanuts' is likely a backronym. The gorpcore aesthetic is technical shell jackets, fleece tops, puffer coats, cargo trousers, trekking boots and sneakers, backpacks, caps and functional fabrics in bright 'signal' colours. The style celebrates practicality, comfort and the aesthetic of adventure, even if the wearer is not heading for the mountains. Gorpcore was popularised by outdoor brands (The North Face, Salomon, Patagonia) fused with fashion and streetwear. It is an answer to the demand for comfort, function and a connection to nature in urban life. Gorpcore is a style of the free, active spirit, in which gear becomes fashion.