LAYERING IT ON

Liam Steinbeck, fabric specialist for Gore, on how garments keep the weather out

How do you make a wind/ waterproof fabric?

For windproof fabrics we use a polytetrafluoroethylene (ePTFE) membrane laminated to the exterior and a backer textile to create a two- or three-layer fabric. Different combinations of textiles determine the fabric’s suitability for different temps. Water-resistant fabrics are made in a similar way. Our Gore-Tex membrane is a thin layer of ePTFE with nine billion pores per square inch. It’s these pores that give the fabric its level of water and windproofing plus breathability.

What’s the difference between water resistant, repellent and proof?

Water repellent is a textile’s ability to make water bead and run off – thanks to a surface treatment known as a DWR (durable water repellent). Water resistance refers to the textile’s ability to prevent water penetrating the fabric. Waterproof is a measure of water resistance. Many fabrics can be classified as water resistant, but the resistance declines over time. The important factor is the durability of the waterproof technology.

What’s the best way to care for a jacket?

Machine wash as per the brand’s instructions, then hang it up or tumble on a gentle cycle. Once the jacket’s dry, tumble dry it for an extra 20mins to reactivate the DWR treatment. If you can’t tumble dry it, iron the dry jacket on a gentle setting (warm, no steam) with a towel between the garment and the iron. When the factory-applied treatment can no longer be reactivated, apply a new treatment.