ANNIVERSARY MARKS FIVE DECADES OF SETTING THE BENCHMARK FOR PROVEN PROTECTION, AND MOVING FORWARD TOGETHER TO ADVANCE RESPONSIBLE PERFORMANCE FOR THE FUTURE  

 London, UK  [May 13, 2026] W. L. Gore & Associates (Gore), founder of the GORE-TEX® Brand, marks 50 years of product innovation and leadership in fabrics. Since its consumer introduction in the Early Winters Light Dimension™ tent in 1976, Gore has expanded its portfolio into a globally trusted solution across garments, footwear, gloves. Today, GORE-TEX® Brand fabrics continue to add comfort while protecting people from everyday situations to the world’s most demanding conditions.

As Gore marks this milestone, the company is not only reflecting on its legacy of innovation but also setting the course for the future. Since Bob Gore’s 1969 discovery of a lightweight, microporous material, GORE-TEX® Product technology has been driven by science-led exploration, transforming a breakthrough insight into one of the most influential materials platforms in performance fabrics. Today, that legacy continues through ongoing innovation and a commitment to advance responsible performance, the belief that performance, durability, and sustainability must advance together. These efforts span the brand’s fabrics business that extends across outdoor, professional, and defense applications, where reliable protection is critical.

“For five decades, GORE‑TEX® Products have enabled people to perform in the toughest conditions,” said Michelle Augustine, Gore fabrics business leader. “We continue to build on this foundation through innovation that helps our partners meet evolving needs while advancing responsible performance for the future.”

Durability has long been a focus for Gore, and the company is now bringing that commitment to the forefront, emphasizing the design of longer-lasting products to help reduce resource use while maintaining performance over time. In parallel, Gore is collaborating with more than 45 stakeholders and Mid Sweden University’s Sports and Outdoor Research Centre to develop a global durability standard for outdoor gear.

Innovation is at the core of Gore’s fabrics business. The company continues to advance next-generation material science, including breakthrough technologies such as its expanded polyethylene (ePE) membrane and PYRAD® Fabrics by GORE-TEX LABS®, delivering trusted waterproof, windproof, breathable, and durable performance.

Gore is also innovating in how its materials are made by transitioning its manufacturing facilities to 100% renewable electricity and continuing to reduce environmental impact through the use of renewable energy, recycled and lower-impact materials, and responsible manufacturing practices.

Anchored by the anniversary theme “50 Years of Going Further, Together,” the brand’s communications and activations will highlight how the GORE‑TEX® Brand continues to advance high performance and responsible performance through science‑led innovation and durable product solutions designed to help reduce impact over time. To mark the anniversary, Gore has launched a multimedia resource featuring a historical timeline, archive video, and imagery available through the GORE‑TEX® Brand archive channel.

The new generation of PYRAD® Product Technology by GORE-TEX LABS®
Reliable protection against electric arc incidents has never been so lightweight. Weighing just 320 g/m², the PYRAD® Product Technology by GORE-TEX LABS® is the most lightweight single-layer technology to incorporate class 2 arc-rated protection. The innovation: it combines three layers of material in one laminate layer – the face fabric made of 100 % recycled polyester, the membrane incorporating protective PYRAD® Product Technology on both sides, and the skin-friendly backer. This construction uses less material and gives the fabric a perceptibly softer feel. Over 100 professionals from a major Italian utility company tested the garments in the summer of 2024 under real working conditions. The outcome: outstanding freedom of movement, conductive heat loss and breathability. Licensed Gore brand partners Van Heurck, Iturri and BSD are also convinced and will be presenting their new protective outfits at this year’s show.

EXTRAGUARD Upper Technology
This technology raises the comfort of safety footwear to a new level. It is the first of its kind to combine the benefits of a robust upper with the advantages of lightweight textiles in one and the same material. EXTRAGUARD safety footwear is robust, waterproof, quick to re-dry and remains lightweight over long periods in wet conditions – even after months of use or continual wear in demanding working conditions. The technology is available as of now for a wide spectrum of work scenarios including the utility, railway, construction and demolition sectors. A large-scale wearer trial at Deutsche Bahn (German railways) established its excellent fitness for use in everyday situations. The fact that the technology has been so well received by leading manufacturers is an indication of the demand in the market for durable and comfortable safety footwear. Atlas, Elten, Fal, HAIX, Heckel, Obuv, Robusta, Solid Gear, Steitz Secura and U-Power will be showcasing their latest EXTRAGUARD styles at this year’s A+A.

Visitors will find the GORE-TEX® Brand in hall 11, stand H 67.
For all media enquiries and interview requests, please contact Sally@rusecomm.co.uk

The 2021 Responsibility Update highlights the development of expanded polyethylene (ePE) as one key example of how Gore’s Fabrics Division is using its vast expertise to drive environmentally improved material innovations. Gore’s new complementary material platform will serve as the basis for membrane technologies in its consumer business.

Another top story featured within the 2021 Responsibility Update: GORE-TEX Professional launched EXTRAGUARD, an innovative upper technology with a lower environmental footprint for a new class of safety footwear.

Ross MacLaine, Sustainability Leader of the Gore Fabrics Division, said: “I am pleased to see that in 2021, despite many challenges, we made substantial progress in many areas. Our sustainability framework is now fully integrated into both our consumer and professional GORE-TEX businesses, providing strategic guidance on key initiatives. In our Responsibility Update this year, we have taken the opportunity to share thoughts from a wide number of our experts to highlight the depth of knowledge we bring to this area. We will keep working hard on all the commitments – made within our sustainability strategy – to protect people and planet while prolonging the lifetime of our products and the well-being of their users.”

Additional highlights from Gore’s sustainability journey last year include:

• Gore Fabrics Division conducted another full assessment of its total carbon footprint and joined forces with its supply chain partners to reduce carbon emission of the raw materials.
• Gore Fabrics Division obtained Global Recycled Standard (GRS) certification for its fabric plants in Putzbrunn (Germany) and Shenzhen (China).
• Gore Fabrics Division further increased transparency in its performance and efforts to reduce the environmental impacts of its fabric plants via the Higg Facility Environmental Module (FEM). While the manufacturing sites in Shenzhen and Elk Mills (USA) maintained their performance levels, the Putzbrunn plant significantly exceed its total environmental score.
• Gore Fabrics Division also continued to verify social compliance at its manufacturing sites via the Higg Facility Social & Labor Module (FSLM).

“These initiatives and achievements demonstrate that in 2021 the Gore Fabrics Division continued to make a difference to our planet and the people living on it. Using decades of scientific knowledge, intensive research & development, as well as a strict testing regime, we remain committed to drive environmentally improved material innovations that deliver an optimized combination of high performance with a lower environmental footprint”, concludes Ross MacLaine

Gore revolutionized the outerwear industry with waterproof, breathable GORE-TEX Fabric more than 40 years ago and remains a leading innovator of performance apparel. Gore fabrics products provide comfort and protection in challenging environments and in everyday life, enabling wearers to safely and confidently achieve and experience more. From hiking in downpours to defence operations and fighting fires, Gore’s deep understanding of consumer and industry needs drives development of products with meaningful performance advantages. For more information, visit www.gore-tex.com and www.goretexprofessional.com.

Sally Ryder Taylor 
GORE-TEX Professional Press Office UK 
Mob: 07793815026 
Email: sally@rusecomm.co.uk