Thousands of years before Gore-Tex was invented in the 1970s, Indigenous communities in Greenland, Alaska, Siberia and Canada made waterproof and breathable clothing using the intestines of seals, whales, walruses, and even bears (among others).
The intestines were perfect for this due to their natural properties. One side of the intestine could block rain while the other side let sweat escape, thanks to tiny holes just big enough for sweat to pass through but too small for water drops. The result? Hunters stayed dry and comfortable even in harsh Arctic conditions.
To make the fabric, the intestines were cleaned, washed, inflated like balloons, and left to dry. Once dry, they were cut into strips and stitched together with a special waterproof seam technique. Making this clothing took incredible skill, and seamstresses were deeply respected for their work.
These garments were incredibly lightweight; some weighed as little as 85 grams. They were essential for survival, especially for hunters traveling in kayaks or other boats. The Inupiat, who have lived in the Arctic 4,000 years years ago, are one of earliest the cultures known for crafting clothing from mammal intestines.
This clothing was still being made in the early 1900s. But as the 20th century went on and synthetic fabrics became easier to get, production declined.
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