With a 3-layer
construction that includes GORE-TEX® membrane sandwiched between a soft
outer material and a knit polyester backing material for added
durability, these garments keep you comfortable and protected from the
elements without adding extra bulk or weight. Garments made with
three-layer GORE-TEX® fabric are the ideal solution for outdoor
enthusiasts who enjoy demanding activities in a wide range of weather
conditions.
The GORE-TEX® membrane has 9 billion pores per square
inch, with each pore 20,000 times smaller than a water droplet. These
tiny holes are too small for water and wind to pass through from the
outside, which is how W.L GORE & Associates guarantees you'll stay
dry and warm in a garment made with GORE-TEX® fabric. But these same
pores are large enough for moisture vapor to pass through, so your
body's perspiration is able to escape and you won’t feel clammy or
uncomfortable inside your jacket.
One of the chief environmental
benefits of GORE-TEX® fabrics is their longevity. GORE-TEX® fabrics are
incredibly durable, and unlike some "waterproof/breathable" fabrics that
can lose waterproofness after repeated laundering, flexing, abrasion,
or exposure to body oils or insect repellent, the waterproofness and
breathability of GORE-TEX® fabric is guaranteed under any conditions you
may encounter. The durable performance of GORE-TEX® fabrics allow them
to last longer, which is the most effective measure for making an
environmentally sound choice. Durability enables a long and useful
lifetime of the finished product, resulting in substantial savings of
raw materials and energy that would be otherwise required to manufacture
multiple units of shorter-lived products.
While no manufacturing
operation is completely free from emissions and environmental impact,
the Fabrics Division of W. L. Gore & Associates makes significant
efforts to minimize the effect of their manufacturing processes on the
environment. They fulfill a high level of environmental standards in all
their manufacturing plants globally with controls in place that meet or
improve upon the local regulatory demands (e.g., air pollution control
devices, solvent-free adhesives, manufacturing waste recycling, and
waste water treatment). The environmental impacts of GORE’s
manufacturing processes are regularly assessed and controlled by an
Environmental Management System according to ISO 14001. This
environmental manufacturing standard was globally implemented in their
fabrics manufacturing plants in 2010.
All of GORE’s fabric manufacturing sites have passed the bluesign®
screening and have implemented the bluesign standard, which verifies
that the manufacturing processes are carefully managed and equipped with
the best available environmental controls. bluesign technologies has
developed an independent and rigorous standard for the safety and
environmental performance in making textile products. http://www.patagonia.com/us/home
