GorpCore @Midd: Fashion or Function?

If you are like me, then the term “Gorpcore” was completely unfamiliar until being exposed to the crunchy culture of Middlebury. Gorpcore is a fashion style that includes wearing utilitarian outdoor clothing outside of its intended use, including colorful Patagonia sweaters, boxy silhouettes, and layering in day-to-day wear. The acronym GORP comes from trail mix “good ol’ raisins and peanuts”, a term that came to define outdoor-recreation culture and eventually evolved to Gorpcore. 

Gorpcore is a fairly common style amongst celebrities like Bella Hadid, Kendall Jenner, and Central Cee, but many Middlebury students have also adopted this aesthetic. It is important to note that not everyone adopts Gorpcore because of these celebrities, some choose it because it fits their personality, others because it makes it easy to go adventuring any time of the year. Some of the brands associated with this style include but are not limited to: Patagonia, Arc’teryx, and The North Face. Although sometimes you may be able to find something like a jacket at a reasonable price, most of the time these brands tend to be pretty expensive. On average, a simple Arc’teryx jacket costs around $400, and the prices tend to increase with quality, style, and durability.

When interviewing a few Middlebury students, the question of whether Gorpcore is worth the price came to mind. While it is important to have high-quality apparel, does quality also define luxury? And at what point does price defeat the purpose of style choice? Do students really care about the functionality of clothing or just the label?

First up, we have the opinions of people who wear Gorpcore because it embodies their love for the outdoors, a key part of their identities.

Ted Chambers ’25 from upstate New York, takes pride in being able to wear functional clothing that looks good. “Everything I wear skiing, I wear around school and life, besides my bib and boots,” said Chambers. Ted speculates that Gorpcore’s recent surge of popularity can be attributed to celebrity influence, a pressure that he himself has felt.

“With Gorpcore and outdoor clothing, a lot of it [clothing pieces] have become a part of the swag. The reason I bought this Arc’teryx beanie is because Frank Ocean was wearing it,” admitted Chambers.

Hannah Elefante ‘25.5 shares a similar story. “I spend most of my summers outside, backpacking, so I don't have a lot of summer clothes that aren't outdoorsy, ” reflected Elefante.

Although she prioritizes the functionality of clothing over style, Elefante observes that sometimes there is overlap in style and functionality, which she embraces.

While Ted and Hannah share the sentiment that Gorpcore is used mainly for functionality, others at Middlebury choose to wear this type of clothing, not because of their interests in outdoor recreation, but simply because they enjoy sporting a crunchy look. 

It is important to note that some brands, including Patagonia, play a huge role in promoting sustainability in fashion, which can influence why people choose to pay a higher price for clothing. Not only are they paying for the style, but fans and consumers also buy into the message it sends. When choosing certain Gorpcore brands, Quin Otto ’25 recalls that “Patagonia is not necessarily a fashion statement but a statement on what you're choosing to wear.” A brand’s reputation can be so powerful that its logo alone can send a message about many things, such as sustainability.  

When asked about why he chooses to wear certain brands, Otto said that his outfit choices had to do more with the identification of the brand and how particular clothing pieces are styled, rather than their utility and durability. “Jackets don’t look outdoorsy on their own, it depends on what they are paired with,” said Otto. For example, an Arc’teryx jacket, although functional on its own, can be used as a styling piece. The way people choose to put Gorpcore pieces together is what enables there to be versatility.

And finally there are some who do not understand the popularity of Gorpcore, or why it has to be expensive. Some people can’t justify the price of a clothing piece simply because it's functional or because the brand is sustainable. This in turn makes the Gorpcore aesthetic exclusive, because their clothing is not on the cheaper side.   

Maxime Warnery ’25 also notes that functional clothing in itself are not solely meant to be fashionable pieces, they are meant for usage in particular settings. “Outdoor clothing is made for purpose rather than the look whereas fashion should be more about the look than purpose,” he said. 

Warnery also compared how certain brands “look” differently at Middlebury than they would elsewhere. “Arc’teryx at Midd gives a more outdoorsy feel than Arc’teryx in London.” Where for example rappers like Central Cee, among others, can be seen rocking the brand. Even Amine wore an Arc’teryx jacket when he performed for Middlebury last Spring. 

At Middlebury, Gorpcore and brands such as Arc’teryx tend to be seen as part of a crunchy culture, whereas the same clothing item would be read as streetwear in a place like New York City or London. All in all, it is safe to say that Gorpcore is not for everyone and whether you choose to wear a $400 jacket for functionality or as a statement piece is totally up to you. Regardless of the reason people choose Gorpcore, its mark on fashion is easily seen around campus, as a reflection of the hobbies, passions, values, and even wealth, of our community.