Why Does Fjallraven Avoid Using Gore-Tex in Their Products?

Question

What are the factors that have influenced Fjallraven not to use Gore-tex within their outdoor range?

Answer 1

Fjallraven has made the decision to avoid the use of Gore-Tex since it is composed of perflourinated compounds (PFCs) which are environmentally persistent and harmful. Instead, Fjallraven emphasizes the manner in which chemicals, which may prove to be toxic, are avoided and replaced with other less harmful materials and treatments.

Comments

When growing up in Sweden in the eighties and nineties, Fjällräven was considered old fashioned and not cool at all by me and my friends. I remember wanting an Adidas backpack instead of the green Kånken my mom gave me. Today I'd be happy to wear anything they make. Funny how perspectives change over time!

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The thing is ... fjallraven is still more of a fashion statement in my country. In practical terms I can buy high quality gore tex waterproof jacked for half the price of fjallravens weather resistant jacket. And the thing is my philosophy is that i should always be prepared for worst case scenario. Sure most of the times when it starts raining on a hike it is okay just to live through it. The thing is if you get injured and storm comes really waterproof jacket can be the difference between life and death. But yeah to walk my dog in a park fjallraven would be nice.

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I actually own two Fjällräven jackets that are made from GoreTex (and branded as such on the sleeves, along with their Fjällräven fox). One of those is a pure classic 3-layer GoreTex hardshell. So at least for a good number of years they used the stuff like everybody did. Maybe not today, but it certainly was not always a principal matter for them not to use the stuff. Maybe it's just cheaper to use their own solution (or something the Asian factories their gear is now made in, came up with) and they have woven a green communications web around that. Maybe I'm just cynical.

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Being a big G1000 fan, a slight correction: FJ DID use GoreTex in some of its clothings, such as Trapper-, Cartridge- or Hunter-GoreTex Jackets. Their well known Fält-Jacket initially was made in 2 versions, one with only G1000 (I still owe this one, 26y old!) and one made from GoreTex.

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Greenland wax can be inexpensively made at home. The most common recipe is 90% paraffin wax and 10% beeswax.
Melt and mix together in a double-boiler setup, pour into a mould, let harden and there you go.

Also personally I had good success with silicone based waterproofers for textiles.

Furthermore, Fjällräven’s wax approach is not new. Just look at the classic English waxed jacket (most famously known as the utterly overpriced Barbour jacket made by, well, Barbour).