Iconic 51-year-old athletic clothing brand closing permanently | Official Website of Louis Velazquez, entrepreneur, finance guy and tech innovator

Weather forecasts make unexpected rain less common, but athletes often choose to train and compete in rain and snow, regardless of conditions.

Until 1984, runners, cyclists, and skiers who did so were often forced to choose between impractical rain gear and getting soaked.

That wasn’t a practical course of action, and W.L. Gore & Associates solved the problem by creating an entirely new material that has kept athletes, including this author, dry on the slopes and in harsh weather conditions.

“For decades, people have relied on one name to keep moisture out and their style locked in: Gore-Tex. The accidental discovery was initially marketed to outdoorspeople, but has grown into a household name embraced by fashion houses, hypebeasts, and anyone else aiming to stay dry and look good doing it,” Coleman Molnar wrote for GQ in Feb. 2025.

That material, Gore-Tex, has been sold under the Gorewear brand name, and while Gore-Tex, the material, isn’t going anywhere, the company will no longer be selling athletic wear under its own name.

Gore-Tex is closing down its Gorewear brand

“Gore-Tex is a family of high-performance weather protection apparel, known for its durability, breathability, and waterproof characteristics,” according to EVO.com.

The material, which is used by the Gorewear brand in clothing designed primarily for runners and bicyclists, comes in two varieties.

More Retail:

“Traditional black diamond logo Gore-Tex waterproof products have a focus on maximum weather protection, while white diamond Gore-Tex Infinium products focus on versatility and functionality, when comfort and performance take priority over complete waterproofness,” the site added.

The company, however, has decided to end the Gorewear brand and has begun a going-out-of-business sale. Gore-Tex has said it will continue producing and licensing Gore-Tex fabrics for third-party brands, even as it exits the Gorewear apparel business.

Gore-Tex protects runners from the rain.

Shutterstock

Details on Gorewear’s last weeks

Gorewear has already begun selling off its inventory and has set a final date for purchases.

“It’s the end of an era. The brand that created the first Gore-Tex cycling jacket is closing after 40-plus years of selling cycling and running activewear. Gorewear will shutter for good at the end of March 2026,” according to Runner’s World.

The company does not explicitly mention that its closing its retail brand on it website, but does share the following note:

“No restocks, no second drops. Once your size is gone, it’s gone.”

The company did send a letter to retail partners explaining the closure.

“For more than 40 years, we have strived with great dedication and considerable investment to successfully position the Gorewear brand in an extremely competitive environment. However, despite all these efforts, we see no realistic possibility of sustainably achieving our business and financial goals,” Velobiz.de, which received a copy of the letter, reported.

Sales have already begun on the website. Remaining sizes are limited, and all sales are final.

Gore-Tex and Gorewear history

According to Gorewear and Gore-Tex company materials, the brand’s history includes many milestones.

Founded in 1984 in Germany by product developers from W. L. Gore & Associates, the U.S. materials science company behind Gore-Tex fabric.
Created to put lightweight, breathable, waterproof technology into performance cycling apparel, beginning with the first Gore-Tex cycling jacket.
The early product that sparked it all was the Giro jacket in 1985, a waterproof, windproof road cycling jacket that became iconic in the sport. Source: Gorewear website
Throughout the 1990s, the brand expanded into a full line of cycling jerseys, bibs, and tights with advanced fabrics and WindStopper technology.
In 1997, Gore expanded into running gear, launching a smaller running apparel line (initially called Concurve Running Wear).
In 2018, the two segments, Gore Bike Wear and GORE Running Wear, were merged into a single brand, Gorewear.
The brand was known for high-performance outerwear, using Gore-Tex and other technical materials to protect athletes in cold, wet, and windy conditions.
After more than 40 years in the market, the parent company announced the closure of Gorewear’s apparel business, citing economic and competitive pressures.
Orders will be filled through March 31, 2026, and then the brand will exit the apparel market.
Gore-Tex will continue making Gore-Tex fabrics for other brands and industries, but Gorewear branded clothing will cease to exist after 2026. Source: Gore-Tex website

The material is licensed to a number of top athletic and outdoor gear brands.

“Today, the Gore-Tex tag is stitched onto thousands of items from gorp gear leaders like The North Face, Patagonia, and Arc’teryx, as well as the more general likes of Nike, Adidas, Carhartt, and Moncler,” added GQ.