Who’s going to the great big GORE-TEX get together then?
There’s a good chance if you’re on this website, that you too have a profound love for GORE-TEX. If so, then we have some really exciting news for you and if not, then you maybe need to get out more (especially if it’s raining). My relationship with this miraculous membrane goes way back to the 1980s and spans everything from Mancunian warehouse parties through to summiting Swedish mountains and working for C.P. Company. But you can hear all about this if you’re in London this weekend and visit ‘The Lattice Works’ in Soho where a weekend of 50th anniversary celebrations are being held in honour of GORE-TEX reaching this pivotal landmark.
Situated at 19 D’Arblay Street in Soho between Saturday 3rd to Sunday 4th October, visitors are able to explore five decades of archive pieces, many of which have rarely been on show to the public. A timeline that spans the full reach of the brand and includes some of the first products ever made with GORE-TEX Material as well as a jacket worn on the 1990 Trans-Antarctica Expedition, together with archival pieces from British outdoor names including Berghaus, Mountain Equipment and Sprayway, as well as technical icons from Arc’teryx. Whilst just in time for the colder, rainier months, GORE-TEX will also be offering GORE‑TEX Gear Repair on a first come, first served basis.
On a fashion tip, visitors will also be treated to a display of collaborations that took the membrane well beyond the mountains, from Palace to Savile Row tailor Henry Poole. Nedda Moqtaderi, Gore’s very own archivist will also be on hand across the weekend to share the stories behind the pieces:the people, the expeditions and the challenges each product was built to solve. She’ll also be taking part in a panel talk on the Saturday evening alongside some GTX geeks from the UK including yours truly. Where I’ll be discussing how acid house and casual culture brought me into it’s GORE-TEX’s orbit, before I actually made it up a mountain and realised what it’s actually made for.
It promises to be a very special weekend and one not to be missed for anyone who has had the Gore gang to thank for keeping them safe, warm and dry over the past half a century. Or as Catriona Shearer from GORE-TEX puts it: “For 50 years, GORE-TEX® Products have set the standard for durable protection and responsible performance. The Lattice Works is our way of bringing that history to life. Opening our archive to the public lets fans discover the stories and innovations behind the products, while our industry programme brings together some of the leading voices in our industry to unpack five decades of the brand.“
The Lattice Works, 19 D’Arblay Street, Soho, London W1F 8ED
Saturday 3 October: 10:00am to 3:30pm
Sunday 4 October: 10:00am to 5:00pm
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