There’s no shortage of sayings about how what we wear shapes how we think. But can it shape what we design, too? 

I’ve long been intrigued by how packaging trends occasionally mirror fashion, and as gorpcore’s technical details and utilitarian aesthetic have begun appearing in packaging design, I’ve started wondering whether the clothes designers wear to the studio might be seeping into their work. 

At its root, gorpcore brings the practical look of outdoor gear into everyday style. Brands like AlpineStart and Fungo Design’s Harvestime illustrate this. Alpine Start’s compact, single-serve coffee sachets bring the pack-light practicality of outdoor gear to an everyday ritual, while Harvestime creates a stronger visual connection, inspired by soil and regional landscapes, with a palette and organic patterning that echo gorpcore’s outdoorsy aesthetic.