Although the down feathers of various species of wildfowl, gulls and other seabirds have historically been used for insulation, most now come from domestic geese. Some 70 percent of the world’s supply comes from China, typically from birds killed for their meat.
In this post
Are down jackets made of real feathers?
The Feathers
Once birds get processed for food, their down is collected and sterilized. The raw down is shipped in large bails to plants—Allied has two in China, one in Vietnam, one in the Czech Republic, and one in Los Angeles—where it’s separated into lots based on the size of the down clusters.
What material is used in a down jacket?
The down jacket, known more commonly in the fashion industry as a puffer jacket or simply puffer, is a quilted coat which is insulated with either duck or geese feathers. Air pockets created by the bulk of the feathers allow for the retention of warm air.
Are down feathers plucked from live birds?
Down and feathers are considered a by-product of the industry and live plucking is strictly prohibited.
What bird is used for down?
While most down and other feathers are removed from ducks and geese during slaughter, birds in breeding flocks and those raised for meat may be plucked repeatedly while they are still alive. Plucking causes geese and ducks considerable pain and distress.
Are geese plucked alive for down?
Farmers usually harvest goose down after the birds are slaughtered for meat, and most geese are killed about 15 weeks after hatching. But farmers may also pluck the feathers when geese are still alive, a painful process akin to someone ripping out human hair, animal welfare and advocacy groups say.
Are geese tortured for down?
Most down and other feathers are removed from ducks and geese during slaughter. However, birds used for breeding and those raised for meat and foie gras are sometimes plucked repeatedly while they are still ALIVE.
What is the difference between a down jacket and a puffer jacket?
What is a puffer jacket? Some puffer jackets use down, but many more use a synthetic insulation that can be lighter than down and still provide the same warmth. Synthetic insulation doesn’t clump or break apart after washing as much as down, so it makes for a better work jacket.
What are puffer jackets filled with?
Puffer jackets, also called quilted jackets, have a signature quilted design with sections that are “puffy” between the stitching. They are filled with down insulation or synthetic fibers, both of which can provide a high level of warmth depending on how well they are made and the quality of the synthetic fibers.
Why are puffer jackets so expensive?
What about puffer jackets? Why are those so expensive? Because they’re made of goose or duck down, and they’re tedious as hell to make! “They have these little rooms at the factories that are just filled with down,” Olsen says.
Are down jackets cruel?
Down With Down
Although most down is removed from ducks and geese during slaughter, birds in breeding flocks and those raised for meat and foie gras may endure the trauma of plucking every six weeks before they are eventually killed. But no matter where it comes from, down is a product of cruelty to animals.
Are birds killed for down?
(Down is a by-product of the meat industry, and many birds used for down are also slaughtered for their meat and livers.)
Is goose down ethical?
If the label says the comforter is made with 800 fill power and 85 percent European goose down, for example, it would actually have to meet those standards to be in compliance with ADFC certifications.
RDS vs. GTDS standards.
| Ethical standard | Responsible Down | Global Traceable Down |
|---|---|---|
| Five Freedoms | Yes | Yes |
What are the 3 types of feathers?
Types of Feathers
- Flight Feathers. Flight feathers are found in two places on birds: the wings and tail.
- Contour Feathers. Contour feathers give shape and color to the bird.
- Down Feathers. Down feathers have little or no shaft.
What are the 4 types of feathers?
Feathers fall into one of seven broad categories based on their structure and location on the bird’s body.
- Wing feathers.
- Tail feathers.
- Contour feathers.
- Semiplume.
- Down.
- Filoplume.
- Bristle.
What is the best down feather?
What is the best down fill power? (feathers don’t have a fill power rating) The rule of thumb is “the higher the fill power the higher the quality,” so our ultra-premium 850 fill power is the finest and most consistent down fill available in the world.
Are down coats ethical?
“Down is a superior material in terms of warmth and weight. It’s environmentally friendly. It’s also a byproduct of the food industry – if it wasn’t being used by apparel companies it would still be there because people are eating the birds. The campaign groups sometimes forget that.”
Is Ikea down cruelty free?
Avoid Live Plucked Down
Major product suppliers like Sweden’s IKEA, the UK’s Marks and Spencer and America’s Patagonia have publicly avowed not to include live-plucked down in their goods.
Is feather and down cruelty free?
No finished product has been tested on animals. We follow our customers animal testing policies for third party manufacture. No ingredients used in Creighton’s, Potter and Moore or branded products have been tested on animals.
How do they harvest down feathers?
The process usually involves scalding the birds’ bodies in hot water for one to three minutes so the feathers are easier to pull out. The body feathers can then be plucked (often by hand), after which the down is removed by hand or machine.
Do goose feathers grow back?
Feathers are usually removed during the natural moulting cycle of the bird, which is the time when they shed their old feathers and grow new ones, every 6-7 weeks. Geese are usually not fed the day before their feathers are collected, to avoid them contaminating their feathers with droppings.