If someone had told our parents a few years ago that, in the future, they’d see people sitting in cafés, sipping lattes, and eating banana bread while dressed head-to-toe in technical sportswear – not just leggings and hoodies, but full-blown mountain gear that once only appealed to elite athletes willing to spend astronomical amounts – they would’ve thought we were joking. But that’s precisely the essence of the Gorpcore aesthetic.
Gaining mainstream traction during the Covid-19 pandemic, Gorpcore emerged as people gravitated toward the outdoors and, more importantly, toward functional fashion: a wardrobe built to handle whatever the day throws at you. It’s about staying prepared without sacrificing style.
As with any trend, Gorpcore’s seemingly straightforward roots carry deeper cultural significance. It reflects a collective shift toward comfort, simplicity, and pragmatism, serving as a grounding response to the rapid pace of the fashion world. This fusion of utility and style is the driving force behind the LIE’s Spring/Summer 2026 show, presented during Seoul Fashion Week. LIE, short for Life Is Expression, is a South Korean lifestyle and ready-to-wear label founded by designer Chung Chung Lee and his sister Nana Lee, children of the legendary designer Lie Sang-bong. Known for their minimalist yet expressive pieces, the brand embraces gender-fluid tailoring, architectural silhouettes, and a fashion-forward sensibility rooted in duality.
This season, LIE turns its focus to a real-life icon of endurance and strength: Lhakpa Sherpa, the first woman to summit Mount Everest ten times. Her story of resilience becomes the heartbeat of the S/S 2026 collection, which reimagines outdoor clothing through an urban lens. Think bold graphic patterns, dynamic colour palettes, and oversized silhouettes with a sculptural edge. Hats echoing miniature tents, tops and accessories inspired by climbing ropes, and vests equipped with pouches for your phone or water bottle—all designed for the woman who might just scale a mountain after her iced matcha.
It’s functional fashion for the fearless, with technical materials like nylon and polyester blending seamlessly with natural fibers like wool and cotton. The result is a collection that doesn’t just look good; it’s a collection that adapts, performs, and empowers.
