Hi-tech from sheep to shop: Voormi aims to change the game in outwear.

• Author: Tilton, Morgan
• Position: STATE of the STATE - Brief article

The process for creating weatherproof outerwear hasn't changed for close to 40 years, according to Voormi co-founder Dustin English. Three separate layers-a base, a face textile and a rubber-glove-like waterproof membrane--are glued together, resulting in a laminated construction referred to as a "sandwich."Now, Pagosa Springs-based Voormi has changed the game.

In January, the small-batch textile brand introduced Core Construction technology, in which fibers are knit directly into and around a central protective membrane. The result?

Weather-resistant clothing with comfortable feel and no glue or layering. Along with outdoor apparel, the application could help drive innovation in protective wear for, say, firefighting or race-car driving.

Vootmi recently Introduced three of IK own Core Construction pieces including the Drift Hydro, an insulating, water-resistant soft-shell jacket made with wool. With the exception of the company's T-shirts, wool is at the root of every item produced.

The team even founded Rocky Mountain Highcountry Menno wool, sheared from Rocky Mountain herds. From sheep to shop, here's the step-by step of how Voormi produces its unparalleled...