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Industry Profiles From
Outdoor Retailer Winter 1999
Patagonia
By Scott Clayton
The first day at the show we traveled around looking at all of the wonderful new products
that will be released this fall. While searching the booths for the next new product
or an up-and-coming company, we came across Patagonia, which is hardly a newcomer.
They have consistently provided quality gear and new product lines for the outdoors enthusiast.
Patagonia is committed to innovation and new product creation where other companies are playing the
"me too" game. This innovation is realized through partnerships with material makers that define what the
future products are. These partnerships are beneficial to both parties. Patagonia creates new products
that will generate copycats, which in turn benefit the material makers.
GearReview.com picks Patagonia as a company to watch this year for new innovative products that will benefit the consumer.
For more information, contact:
Patagonia
8550 White Fir Street
P.O. Box 32050
Reno, NV 89533-2050
(800) 638-6464
www.patagonia.com
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W.L. Gore
W.L. Gore is always working,
behind the scenes, to enhance and improve products used to manufacture outdoor gear. At the OR shows
there is always something interesting going on at the W.L. Gore booth. Several different demonstrations
that everyone should see, at least once. Winter '99 is no exception. There was a lot of excitement in
one corner. After wading through shoe lace necklaces with a Gore logo and a blinking light, a fabric
frisbee, and a Gore logo shaped pamphlet, it was easy to see that PacLite fabric is going to be heavily
emphasized come this fall.
Positioned between the comfort of 2-ply Gore-Tex and the durability of 3-ply Gore-Tex, outerwear
made with PacLite fabric is more breathable and weighs 15% less than an equivalent 3-ply Gore-Tex
garment. It also compresses 25%~30% more than 3-ply Gore-Tex. To help lighten things up, they've
replaced the need for a weighty fabric liner with raised dots that protect the Gore-Tex membrane
against abrasion. At first glance several people questioned whether or not the seams were taped.
But never fear, the dots do an excellent job of hiding the Gore-Seam tape that provides durably waterproof
seams. Look for PackLite fabric in garments made by W.L. Gore partners this fall.
W.L. Gore is one of the leaders of the LBP (Lightweight, Breathable, and Packable) charge this year.
GearReview.com picks W.L. Gore as a company to watch this year for new innovative products that will help
shape the industry going into the future.
For more information, contact:
W.L. Gore & Associates, Inc.
301 Airport Road
Bldg. 2
Elkton, MD 21921
(800) 431-GORE
www.gorefabrics.com
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