Gorp fam, we got bad news. Your Arc’teryx might be toxic. As of January 2025, a group of chemicals found in your Gorp gear, are now being banned from sale in the states of California and New York, and a class action lawsuit has been filed against the parent company of Gore-Tex by the state of Maryland. The lawsuit alleges that the brand uses harmful chemicals (called PFAS and PFCs) that are linked to serious health risks and environmental pollution, but markets them as “eco-friendly”.
So, is our Arc’teryx jacket killing us? Well, it’s a bit more complicated than that. The PFAS and PFCs, aka “forever chemicals”, that make garms waterproof have been often detected in our human bodies, food, farmland, water – just like microplastics. And although Gore-Tex is moving away from these chemicals, the damage is done.
But, “wearing the jackets is unlikely to harm the person wearing them,” biophysical chemist at UC Berkeley Arlene Blum told the New York Times. “The harm comes during the manufacturing” and it basically pollutes the water, soil and air near the manufacturing facility, and that’s what can lead to health issues like cancer, pregnancy complications and weakening the immune system.
Skin contamination is not a big risk – you should be more worried about your water, food and food packaging (at this point, is there anything that isn’t toxic?) The biggest issue is the manufacturing and the disposing of your Gorp gear: as the garms end up in landfill, polluting the water and soil. So, hold on to your Gorpcore for as long as possible, bc throwing it away is what’s peak for the environment.
In a time where sustainability in fashion is more crucial than ever, and we’re very aware of the implications on our planet and our people, why is sh*t like this still happening? And it’s not even just waterproof clothing: studies across South Korea and the US have also found a variety of chemicals (including lead) across fast fashion brands like Shein, affecting wearers, factory workers and people living near landfill areas. Makes you think, is this really worth the drip?
Featured image by @03j90
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