If you’d asked most people a few seasons ago whether they’d want a sweatshirt made from a surfer’s wetsuit, the answer would have probably been a firm no. But now it’s a different story, such are the charms of performance fabrics, which can often be as good-looking as they are practical.

Chalk it up to the rise of athleisure or a greater demand for functional pieces, but designers from the high-end to the high street are in a scramble to go high-tech.

With that, of course, comes a load of new jargon to get a grip on. Don’t know your Gore-Tex from Al Gore? Here’s a rundown of the the smart textiles making waves in wardrobes.

Neoprene

Neoprene (also known by its non-technical name of ‘that squishy scuba material’) has been enjoying life on land in recent seasons, but it’s certainly no fish out of water in stylish men’s wardrobes.

Resistant to heat and weathering, waterproof and an able insulator, the earliest version of the fabric was developed as an alternative to rubber during World War I.

In its most fashion-friendly guise, raw neoprene has been foamed and as a result contains air pockets that ensure it’s an excellent insulator while remaining lightweight.

Best for: Insulating sweatshirts.

Gore-Tex

Gore-Tex sprung to life as part of a happy accident in 1969 when Wilbert L. Gore and his son stretched a heated rod of polytetrafluoroethylene too quickly. Like neoprene, it’s microporous (9bn pores per square inch to be exact) and prides itself and on being waterproof, windproof and breathable. The crucial difference is that it’s much thinner.

How does it work? Modern versions of Gore-Tex boast a porous membrane which is enclosed in high performance lining and outer textiles. This means in cold, wet weather you’ll be well-insulated and warm, but if you’re getting hot and sweaty, the fabric will allow moisture to pass through its membrane and away from the body.