It's a history of tackling harsh environments.
1958 | DELAWARE, USA | Wilbert L. & Genevieve Gore

WL Gore & Associates began in 1958 when Bill and Wiev Gore, who worked for DuPont, America's largest chemical conglomerate, founded the company in their basement. Their belief in the potential of PTFE (polytetrafluoroethylene), a synthetic polymer they had been researching and developing, led them to establish the company. Initially, it grew as a manufacturer of PTFE-insulated cables and cable components. They expanded their sales network globally, and their high-quality cables were even used in NASA's Apollo program.

A turning point came in 1969 when Bob Gore, the son of the founding couple, developed a new material called ePTFE. This was PTFE that had been expanded, which made it possible to apply it in a wide range of fields.

In 1976, the American outdoor brand Early Winters released the first rainwear using GORE-TEX fabric. Its unprecedented waterproof and breathable properties quickly gained popularity, and subsequently, many other outdoor brands began to adopt GORE-TEX fabric.

In 1979, Danner became the first company in the world to use GORE-TEX fabric in footwear. Additionally, GORE-SEAM® tape was introduced, further improving waterproofing.

Then, in 1991, they introduced the "GUARANTEED TO KEEP YOU DRY®" promise, a guarantee program to ensure quality. As reliability and brand value increased, the name GORE-TEX products have now become synonymous with waterproof and breathable technology.

Furthermore, Gore's advanced technologies utilizing ePTFE are also being applied to medical applications and automotive fuel cells. In particular, its artificial blood vessel technology, which began to be adopted in the medical field in 1976, has gained a large market share in the industry and is contributing to the advancement of medical technology.