Sabrina Bloedorn is changing the outerwear style game for good

Technical outerwear has quickly become fashion's favourite flex. Salomon, Arc'teryx, The North Face—labels initially built for the elements now sit comfortably in the gorpcore, urban uniform, more likely to be spotted in line for a flat white than a summit climb. It's an enduring movement, one that consistently blurs the line between performance and aesthetic—durability and practicality still intact, but not always put to the test. Enter the internet's gorpcore queen, Sabrina Bloedorn—a woman on a mission to prove fashion and function can coexist. To her combined audience of 350k followers, the North American creator redefines trail-ready dressing, showcasing innovative, stylish and genuinely practical outfits in some of the world's most jaw-dropping vistas—not a clean-girl leggings-and-crop-top combo in sight. Forever putting performance claims under the microscope, Sabrina isn't interested in aesthetic alone. She's championing style with the substance to back it up—and we're buckling in for the climb.

Scrolling back through your Instagram, the outdoors has always been a constant, but your style has evolved. What sparked the shift toward fully embracing the gorpcoregirl aesthetic? It really just came with getting older and realising that I can like both and that's okay. I love doing rough hikes, but I'm also a girl who likes feeling good about how I look. Finding space for both of those things was really powerful for me, and I think it is for many women, too.

Do you ever wake up and think, ‘Wow, I can't believe this is my day-to-day’? One million per cent. I'm constantly in disbelief that this is my life, my job, and that I can inspire people to get outside and have fun doing it. There are so many new doors I want to open this year, but like anything meaningful, it'll take time. My first big focus is building a hiking clothing brand. I'm a seamstress and used to sew almost all of my own clothes, so combining that skill with my love for the outdoors is something I've always wanted to pivot toward.

What behind-the-scenes realities of your work and lifestyle tend to get overlooked? You never really know how solid an opportunity is until it actually happens. A brand can be incredibly excited, share all the details about this amazing collaboration, and then, a week before it's supposed to happen, pivot and decide not to move forward or to select someone else. You have to realise it's almost like a lottery system, and rejection is a huge part of this job. If you aren't nimble and able to pivot quickly, it's really hard to find happiness in this industry.

You've been pivotal in expanding people's—especially women's—perceptions of outdoor style. How does that feel? It feels amazing! I love women. We're so fun and so intoxicating. I hate seeing us doubt ourselves or hold back from what truly makes us happy. It took me forever to really start being who I want to be. Growing up in a very small town of 1,200 people, I always felt like I wanted to stand out, but I never wanted to feel like I was sticking out. There's a difference. Standing out is fun. You can feel unique in your personal style or hobbies. Sticking out feels like you're going so against the grain of your surroundings that people are judging you. That's the part that gets to me. Anytime I feel judgment from someone, I instinctively want to pivot away from them. Even if something isn't your style, it's someone else's passion, and I would never judge that.

Something that truly backs it up with substance? I worked for Lululemon and Arc'teryx, and I also spent a year working as a seamstress, so I've always cared deeply about functionality. I've never really been drawn to purely aesthetic brands. All the clothing I wear on hikes is genuinely hiking gear; it's just styled a little differently than how people might typically wear it. I appreciate having fun with fashion, don't get me wrong, but the technical side of it has always been more intriguing to me. Recently, I've started exploring more ultralight and Hyperlite-style products, and I'm really excited to dive deeper into them. The outdoor industry has evolved significantly in recent years: more colour, more pattern, more personality. Where has it made the biggest progress, and where is there still work to be done? This is a great question, and it's something I've definitely noticed. I'm actually starting a series where I break down the quality of different pieces to see whether it's just fashionable or actually well-made.

Retro activewear is having a moment again. Why do you think we keep coming back to those silhouettes and styles, particularly in the outdoor space? I think people naturally get bored with seeing the same thing over and over—I know I do. I love playing around with fashion, and when you do that, you naturally end up diving into the past for inspiration and reshaping it into your own style. I'm especially inspired by sci-fi films. I love looking at the futuristic clothing in those movies and then finding ways to translate that energy into how I style myself on hikes. There are so many fun styles in retro activewear that people should check out. I find sourcing vintage on eBay or even at your local thrift store is the best. If you know how to sew, it's even better, because you can make small adjustments to make it fit better or look cooler.

Here in New Zealand, we're famous for experiencing four seasons in one day. What's your secret to dressing well for unpredictable hiking conditions? I always start with natural fibres against my skin, something like lightweight, breathable Merino wool makes such a great base layer. From there, I'll choose either down or synthetic insulation depending on where I'm at in the hike. I always bring a shell as well, something lightweight and GORE-TEX that can protect me from rain, snow, and wind. At the end of the day, the most important thing is understanding your climate. Choose a mid-layer that works for your output level, and a protective outer layer that truly shields you from the environment you're in.

What are your non-negotiable hiking essentials? A good pair of Oakley sunglasses, a bandana, ROA hiking boots, and Barefoot Sandals for post-hiking. Equipment-wise, my Raide Research Backpack 30L, lightweight Black Diamond poles, and emergency kit are at the top of the list. Recently, I’ve been carrying the DJI Osmo Pocket 3 for easy vlogging. And you can’t look past Clif Bloks Chews for a quick energy boost!

What's been your favourite place you've had the privilege of exploring so far? Probably Iceland. It's been an absolute dream to travel there in the summer—the landscape is unreal, and it has some of the best hut-to-hut hiking I've ever done. It's a place I'd love to spend a full year in, to experience how dramatically the landscape shifts with each season.

Which places are still at the top of your bucket list? Does New Zealand make the cut? It does, but I need at least a month there; it's on my list for next year!