Recognised for advancing material science in shoes for active lifestyles, W.L. Gore & Associates has earned an OutDoor Industry Award in the product category of Material Innovation, for its newest technology Gore-Tex 3D fit footwear.

A new waterproof, breathable technology that contours to the shape of the foot (like a sock), Gore-Tex 3D fit will be used in mesh, elastic, knitted athletic footwear suitable for everyday use – a footwear category that has seen rapid growth in popularity over recent years.

The OutDoor Industry Award, one of the leading international design awards for companies in the outdoor industry, evaluates and assesses new products and product technologies using an independent panel of expert judges.

Debut

Gore-Tex 3D fit footwear debuts at the OutDoor trade show in Friedrichshafen, Germany, this week and will also be shown at the North American Outdoor Retailer Show in Denver, CO, next month. Shoes featuring the new technology are being manufactured and marketed by Gore brand partners, adidas Terrex with its Terrex Agravic Speed, Salomon with its custom made ME:sh shoe and Under Armour with its second generation HOVR Phantom shoe. Brands will debut the technology in their shoes beginning in early 2019 both in-store and online.

“We’re honoured that the OutDoor Industry Award panel took note of how this technology moves the needle forward in modern shoe fabrication,” said Silke Kemmerling, Product Specialist for the Gore Fabrics Division. “With this new technology, consumers will enjoy a shoe that more effectively contours to the shape of their foot, and manufacturers will be able to implement a technology that is easy to integrate into existing footwear designs.”

Gore-Tex 3D fit footwear

Gore-Tex 3D fit footwear will enable manufacturers to have access to a waterproof breathable insert, offering seamless comfort in a lightweight stretchy material that can be used in a variety of lighter-weight athletic and lifestyle shoes, the company says.

Gore-Tex 3D fit footwear is said to refine lightweight elastic shoes with a new standard of fit while delivering waterproof, windproof and breathable comfort, and a 3D insert that contours to the shape of the foot just like a sock.

“Consumers will like this technology because it will allow them to wear their favourite knitted, elastic, mesh footwear in broad range of conditions, regardless of weather or activity. By wearing shoes with Gore-Tex 3D fit footwear, they will no longer need to compromise style or be restricted on what they can wear for their favourite outdoor activities,” the manufacturer explains. “Gore-Tex 3D fit footwear offers seamless comfort, ensuring consumers will enjoy how the product fits and feels.”

www.goretex.com