“I guess it’s not called the Desert District”, mumbles a festival goer as they raise their hood and step outside of the huge marquee that makes up the Kendal Mountain Festival ‘Basecamp’. Another heavy squall of rain sheets across the fells, roofs and streets; and the hoods of the masses here to enjoy the weekend.
Perhaps the typical Lake District weather was particularly apt for the GORE-TEX GEAR TOUR’s second visit to the UK’s largest mountain festival. Throughout the weekend, well over 20,000 outdoors-obsessed folks streamed into the Cumbrian town; seeking inspiration, culture, conversations, fun and maybe a beer or two in the evening to wash it all down. As it grows each year, it feels like KMF takes over more and more of the town, but the hub is always Basecamp. It represents somewhere to meet, take in a variety of intimate talks and panel discussions, grab a bite to eat (or your preferred form of hydration) and chat directly with the brands who attend.
Care, repair, recreate
The weather might not have been ideal for enjoying the mountains on Kendal’s doorstep, but it made for a good conversation starter on the GORE-TEX brand’s stand. While autumn might typically be the time to buy new outdoor gear, the theme of the weekend was centered on sustainability. Basecamp was brimming with know-how; from simple steps you can take to care for existing technical garments through regular washing and reproofing; to more specialist skills needed to repair damaged outdoor gear, to keep it in use for longer. And that's where the GORE-TEX GEAR TOUR comes in. Once more, we partnered up with Scottish Mountain Gear (SMG) – one of a few authorized GORE-TEX repair centers in the UK – to give festival-goers the chance to give their well-loved GORE-TEX kit a second chance. This is one of the many ways the GORE-TEX brand is bringing to life 'Responsible Performance'.
Rips were patched, zips replaced, velcro reattached. From Friday morning to the festival close on Sunday afternoon, the sewing machines rattled away, breathing new life into GORE-TEX garments from across the decades. Winning the prize for oldest was a thirty-year-old charity shop find, which could have passed for a much more recent retro-inspired jacket were it not for some sorry-looking seams. The ‘most patches’ prize was a more closely fought battle between a couple of pairs of mountaineering overtrousers that had seen their fair share of crampon scrapes. Both customers decided to show off their repairs to the fullest by opting for brightly colored patches made from off-cuts of GORE-TEX fabrics.
Each and every repair or upcycle completed was different; whether that was down to the damage presented, the story behind the damage, or the customer's choice of repair. What wasn’t different, though, was the smile when a freshly repaired item was picked up. Simple happiness gleaned from an old friend gaining a new lease of life.
Even garments that had reached the end of their useful life weren’t forgotten. The team spent Saturday evening upcycling old GORE-TEX jackets into totes, making full use of any features; think zip pockets inside and out and brightly colored panels.
Back to base-ics
Elsewhere in Basecamp, Patagonia brought their new Worn Wear trailer – so big it had to be parked outside – and also offered free repairs all weekend. Rab demonstrated the effectiveness of regular DWR treatment via a simple display and some dripping taps. Organizations like Trash Free Trails explained how we can all take simple steps to go beyond ‘leave no trace’ and leave our mountains in a better position than when we found them. Many of the talks and films focussed on the impact of climate change and the stark reminder that our playground is so much more than a playground – it’s planet Earth. And while it certainly was possible to scratch the retail therapy itch, more and more brands placed sustainability as key to their messaging; whether that was small batch products made in the UK or companies embracing new garment technologies like new GORE-TEX fabrics using ePE membrane.
Whatever the weather
So while a repaired coat isn’t going to change the world, it marks a change of mindset; one where a garment’s life isn’t determined by its first point of failure. The best product is the one that you already own; the one that encapsulates a thousand memories, and brings you a smile each time you pull up the hood and step out into the squall – whether that’s at a film festival or climbing a mountain.
