So let's unpack:
1/ What Gorpcore is + where it came from.
2/ What makes something Gorpcore.
3/ Its place in the culture.
4/ Predicting just how mainstream outdoor-wear can go.
What is Gorpcore:
Ever heard of "good old raisins and peanuts?"
It's another phrase for trail mix. Yep, that's it.
So how's this related to Gorpcore?
Gorpcore is someone who wears a (trail) mix of: technical, utilitarian, function, outdoorsy-wear on the regular.
... you know, clothing *traditionally* reserved for trail runners. Hikers. Campers.
Kind of like this:
In 2017, The Cut's Jason Chen coined the phrase Gorpcore as a way of describing this budding species.
But it ain't new.
It's been around for years, gaining steam in the late 2010s.
Chen says Gorpcore represents a style-shift away from minimalism (what's known as Normcore).
Here's Chen's piece if you're interested in a deeper dive on the origins.
https://t.co/R09YQeOftC
Characteristics of Gorpcore?
It's:
- playfully normal.
- ugly on purpose.
- painfully obstinate.
- obscenely colorful.
All at the same time. Here's what I mean 👇
A direct quote from someone Chen interviewed:
“Listen, if you dropped me somewhere upstate, I’d cry... but I love clothes that can transport me."
that's the irony of Gorpcore.
By being non-style, it *is* a fashion statement.
But what *actually* makes something Gorpcore?
I've got 4 indicators: color, shape, layering, and function.
Here's your guide to detecting Gorpies in the wild... 🏕️
1/ COLOR
Color is key.
You often see it with the outerwear and socks.
From fleeces and windbreakers, to soft-shell puffers, color is where you make it pop.