Sam Digiambattista was shopping for a ski jacket when he discovered that Gore-Tex—the gold standard in outdoor fabrics for 50 years—is made with PFAS, harmful forever chemicals. Rather than accepting the status quo, the then-teenager decided to do something about it. In the two years since, Sam has developed his own PFAS-free waterproof breathable fabric and launched Indersity, a technical outerwear brand committed to environmental responsibility without sacrificing performance. At just 19 years old, Sam demonstrates remarkable conviction and values-driven leadership that makes you believe sustainable innovation is possible in the outdoor industry.

Topics Covered:

Why this teenager rejected the fabric standard
From zero knowledge to proprietary fabric in two years
Speed wins: Building a technical brand without waiting for permission
Taking on investors to capitalize on an opportunity
Getting athletes on board early
Staying hands-on while growing

Links:
Indersity
KORE podcast episode with Alex Lauver
KORE podcast episode with Casey Shaw

For more about the KORE Outdoors Podcast, visit https://koreoutdoors.org/podcast/

The KORE Outdoors Podcast is supported by the Province of British Columbia.

Meet the 19-year-old Taking on Gore-Tex: Sam Digiambattista of Indersity