DOWNLITE COMFORT TO THE CORE
Down & Feather: Nature’s Best Insulator
DOWN DOWN DOWNLITE DOWN DOWN DOWN
down & feather is nature’s best insulator Key Properties And Benefits: • Highest Insulating Value (warmth-to-weight) • Lowest environmental impact • Adjustable, compressible, light weight, and durable • Bi-product of the Duck & Goose food industry • Biodegradable • Can be recycled
// let’s learn all about it
DOWNLITE COMFORT TO THE CORE
FEATHER DOWN Down is a 3-dimensional cluster of fibers connected at a central point and form a ball-like shape. All of these fibers stuck together is what provides loft, compressibility, and ultimately warmth.
Feathers are 2-dimensional plumage from the outer covering of a bird’s body. They have a quill in the center and many strands of fibers coming off of it. They naturally come in a range of sizes. When properly processed, feathers can have a curl which helps provide loft, support, and resiliency. Feathers have a relatively low warmth value compared to down clusters.
Down is only found on waterfowl – Duck and Goose.
DOWNLITE COMFORT TO THE CORE
ANATOMY OF DOWN CLUSTERS
LOFT & COMPRESSIBLE
Shape of the fiber allows it to loft. This also allows it to be highly compressible and fully recover.
INTERLOCKING
Fibers interlock to trap air and provide warmth forming a 3-dimensionl cluster
AIRFLOW
Allows for air to move through to maintain breathability
TRACEABILITY Several standards are used to provide traceability on down and feather. The most common is Responsible Down Standard (RDS). Here are some differences between the available standards. RESPONSIBLE DOWN STANDARD - RDS ◊ Traces material from the raising farm until the last manufacturing step. ◊ Uses statistical sampling to ensure a transparent supply chain ◊ Prohibits use of live-plucking. ◊ Prohibits use of force-feeding. ◊ Originally developed by The North Face®.
// Learn more at: https://responsibledown.org
INTERNATIONAL DOWN STANDARD - IDS ◊ Traces material via a chain of affidavits and audits ◊ Prohibits use of live-plucking. ◊ Prohibits use of force-feeding.
TRACEABLE DOWN STANDARD - TDS ◊ More strict than R.D.S. in that 100% of the supply chain is initially audited – from parent farm on ◊ Traces material from the farm until the last manufacturing step. ◊ Prohibits use of live-plucking. // Learn more at: https://www.nsf.org/knowledge-library/traceable-down-standard ◊ Originally Prohibits use of force-feeding. developed by Patagonia®.
FILL POWER Fill Power is a commonly used, but commonly mis-understood specification for Feather & Down. Fill Power is often viewed as how warm a product will be. While it can translate to warmth, Fill Power is actually a volumetric measure of how much space 1 ounce of down (in cubic inches) takes up when a standardized weight is applied to it. Material with a higher fill power generally has a higher percentage of down clusters in it and can have larger down clusters. This means the fill takes up more space. ◊ A 600 Fill Power means it takes up 600 cubic inches of space. ◊ A 900 Fill Power means it takes up 900 cubic inches of space. Warmth can be achieved in multiple ways: Adding more fill for more weight, or by keeping the same weight and moving to a higher fill power material. In bedding, most often a 600 Fill Power is used and more weight is added for more warmth. In outdoor apparel generally a lower amount of down and higher fill power is used. Commonly Used Specifications: ◊ 75% Down Cluster 550 - 600 Fill Power ◊ 80% Down Cluster 650 - 750 Fill Power ◊ 90% Down Cluster 800 - 900 Fill Power
Measuremen t:
550 FP
600 FP
700 FP
800 FP
900 FP
SUSTAINABILITY In terms of sustainability, Down & Feather is the most sustainable and Earth-friendly material used in bedding and outdoor products. It is a natural material, a bi-product of the food industry, recyclable, and biodegradable.
97
lower environmental impact t h a n polyester
%
18 20
less impact on climate change t ha n polyester
X
X
less need for energy consumption
From a 2019 study commissioned by the IDFB and performed by 3rd party auditing agencies.
F.A.Q. Q: I Have Allergies, I Was Told Not To Buy Down. Is This True? A: Most likely not. Most people are not allergic to down or feather (although a very small percentage of people are). Some people are allergic to the dust that can become trapped in the filling. The best way to combat this is to wash & dry your products often (recommended weekly if you have allergies). Q: Down Has A Bad Odor – What Can I Do? A: Down, like any natural product, has a slight odor to it. A good comparison is leather that also has a natural odor to it. Down that is properly washed, sterilizied, dried, and stored (in a dry breathable environment) should not have a strong odor to it. Q: I’ve Heard Down Is Hard To Care For A: Down & Feather is easy to care for. It is machine launderable and very durable. Wash and Dry on Normal cycle frequently. You can also wash and dry some products (depending on fabric) under hot water wash and dry cycles. For any new down & feather products we recommend that you put it in the dryer for 3 - 5 minutes to fluff up.
SPECIFICATIONS FILL POWER Measure of how much volume (in cubic inches) it takes up. CLUSTER PERCENTAGE Measure of the percentage (in weight) of 1 ounce of down and how many down clusters are present versus feather, fiber, or other. SPECIES What species – Duck or Goose – the material is from.
COLOR Shows whether or not the fill is white or grey. All white fills have a small degree of “flecking” – small specs of grey.
Gre y
White