Coco Rocha Brings Ioni Home

Coco Rocha posted a photo wearing Seraphine on her Instagram March 30, 2015. The new mommy shared an adorable picture welcoming her newborn daughter Ioni home as she stayed warm in Seraphine's Aspen Black Maternity Down Jacket! ($112; www.seraphine.com/us). 

Photo courtesy of Instagram: www.instagram.com 

Below is a fashion model wearing the maternity jacket so that we can have a better view:

Canada Goose Cold Weather Jackets

Looking for a warm winter jacket?

Founded in a small warehouse in Toronto, Canada, over fifty years ago, Canada Goose has since grown to be recognized internationally as one of the world's leading manufacturers of extreme weather outerwear.

They have kept 100% of their production at home in Canada because they are committed to outstanding craftsmanship.  They believe it’s critical to the integrity of Canada Goose and the quality of their products.  The company believe’s that no one can do it better. But there’s a more important reason than that.  Cold weather is part of the Canadian national identity, and there are no better judges of the quality of their products than those for whom they are designed — and by whom they were inspired.  The Canada Goose company is proud to have Canadians rely on them for protection in unspeakably cold conditions.  

Canada Goose has over 40 years of industry-leading understanding of down insulation technology which allows them to choose the best blends of down to suit the specific requirements of each of their jackets.  All of their blends include some Hutterite down, among the most premium Canadian down available.  Its ability to retain more warm air than other types of down results in lighter weight jackets that don't sacrifice warmth.

Canada Goose developed the Thermal Experience Index (TEI) to help consumers find the warmth they want for the experience they seek in each of the Canada Goose products. Whether you need a lightweight jacket for active pursuits or a field-tested parka for the coldest places on earth, this five-point system is designed to help you make the right selection from their  expansive collections.

Below is one example of the outwear from this company.

You can learn more about the Thermal Experience Index at their website http://www.canada-goose.com/

Learn more about Canadian down from the Downmark website (Down Association of Canada). 

You can learn about down from around the world from the down manufacturer directory on Apparel Search.

If you are interested in winter apparel, you may want to also view our warm winter clothing guide blog post.

Thank you for taking the time to read our outerwear blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

Responsible Down Standard

The North Face is committed to improving animal welfare and traceability in the goose down and feather supply chain.  They created the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) to help ensure that the down that they utilize in their products does not come from animals that have been subject to any unnecessary harm, such as force-feeding or live-plucking, and to provide a traceability system to validate the original source of down used in The North Face products.  Certified down will be incorporated into their products starting in Fall 2015 with a goal of 100 percent certification by Fall 2017.

The North Face uses down in outerwear and sleeping bags because of its superior insulating properties and warmth-to-weight ratio.  A couple of years ago, they became aware of the potential mistreatment of animals in the food supply chain from which they sourced their down.

They had been relying on self-declarations from their suppliers but it became clear that this was not sufficient.  The down supply chain is very complex and the animals and raw materials typically change hands many times, making validation difficult.  Due to this complexity, they were very deliberate in their development of the RDS and sought input from experts in animal welfare, standard development and materials traceability.  A team from The North Face traveled to China and Eastern Europe to evaluate their supply chains in those regions.  Because down can be sourced from small farms as well as large slaughterhouses, the team evaluated everything from hatcheries to family farms to processing facilities

The company developed a standard that addresses the down supply’s diverse challenges by tapping the expertise of two key partners, Control Union Certifications, an accredited third-party certification body with expertise in agriculture and farm systems, and Textile Exchange, a global nonprofit dedicated to sustainability in the apparel and textile industry.

The North Face gifted ownership of the RDS to Textile Exchange, which will allow any organization seeking to source down more responsibly to use this tool.  Adam Mott, Director of Sustainability explains that, “Our hope is that the collective use of the RDS will effectively promote positive animal welfare conditions and traceability in the down supply chain at a much larger scale than we could accomplish alone.  We firmly believe that by driving positive change across the global supply chain, the RDS will benefit the industry at large.”

The RDS v2 Stakeholder Review period is officially open.   Textile Exchang is asking any interested parties to take time to review the revised draft of the standard, in order to provide feedback.  The revised standard is a result of the work of the International Working Group.  The review included stakeholders from throughout the supply chain, animal welfare groups including Humane Society International, PETA and 4-Paws,and brands and retailers.  A webinar introduced the standard to stakeholders. The form includes all the written comments collected through the feedback form, written responses to each one, with key themes listed first.  Further changes to the standard were made as a result of the review, as well as phone conversations with stakeholders.

The Textile Exchange is very grateful for their contribution of time and expertise into making this the strongest possible standard for the down industry.  To participate in the Stakeholder Review, please follow the guidelines listed on their website.  If you have any questions, please send them to Integrity@TextileExchange.org.

You can learn more about the Responsible Down Standard at the Textile Exchange website.

On Apparel Search, we have a directory of feather & down suppliers.  We are not currently sure which of them would be certified or not.  If you plan to work with any of those suppliers, we suggest that you ask them to confirm if they have been certified or not.

Below is a bit more on the subject of down clothing:

Learn about TurboDown on the Fashion Blog.  You can also use the search to find additional posts regarding down or any other subject. 

Learn about selecting insulated vests & jackets in the research section of our textile education guide.

You may also have interest in Fjällräven Down and reading the down definition.

Thank you for taking the time to read our apparel & textile industry blog post. We hope that you have found this news to be informative. If you have comments or questions, please add your thoughts in the discussion area below.

SNOWMAN New York Outerwear

Posh outerwear company, SNOWMAN New York, has become a hit thanks to the release of their hottest winter outerwear collection yet, dubbed, ‘42’. Gone are plush, heavy jackets thanks to their latest designs featuring two-ply 100% down-proof nylon for a low feather shed. With an innovative design formula of 90% down and 10% feather with 600 fill-power, SNOWMAN’s styles are ultra-lightweight, resilient, and less bulky than a standard jacket without sacrificing warmth. More than a high-fashion jacket, SNOWMAN outerwear embraces the urban city lifestyle through sleek designs meant to last through every day wear and tear. With prices ranging from $198 to $548, SNOWMAN outerwear can work its way into any wardrobe budget. The company also had a successful showcase at the 2014 Stitch Trade Show which recently took place at the Javits Center in New York City.

With winter quickly approaching, the fashionable outwear line hasn’t forgotten about those in need. SNOWMAN New York recently partnered with Livestrong to create a comfy, moto-inspired jacket with the purpose of giving back. 5% of all purchases of the SNOWMAN Trooper jacket will be donated to the Livestrong Foundation. The jacket can be pre-ordered for $298 at http://goo.gl/ttFEfL.

“SNOWMAN New York is way more than a winter coat line. We design innovative jackets that are stylish and reliable enough to stand up to the unexpected New York City climate all year long.” Sates Co-Founder of SNOWMAN New York, Jennifer Suh. “Customers shouldn’t have to choose between looking fabulous and staying warm and dry. We are constantly looking into ways to improve our products because our customers deserve it. Our partnership with the Livestrong Foundation was also a no-brainer; we stand behind Livestrong in their fight against cancer and really love that we were able to contribute to the cause through our business.”

SNOWMAN has gained popularity among stars such as Aviva Drescher, Toni Trucks, Ramona Singer, Anna Demidova, and city folk alike for the uncomplicated ideas behind the outerwear line. Grabbing inspiration straight from the various urban-chic lifestyles in New York City, the company recognizes much more than the lush Central Park landscape or the perpetual daytime in Times Square within their line. Their down outerwear collection represents the needs of all city dwellers, extending well beyond the basic needs. SNOWMAN is driven by the gourmet, hole-in-the-wall cafes as well as the creative, passionate minds that fill them. The day-to-day experiences, adventures, and exploration are just as endless within the cityscape as within their collections. SNOWMAN’s premium down outerwear is ultra-lightweight, resilient, and functional. Each jacket is filled with 90% dependable high loft 600-fill power thermal down insulation. They combine the feel of outdoor sportswear with the hook of high fashion.
 

About SNOWMAN New York

SNOWMAN thrives to portrait New York City culture and happenings in every collection. They proudly provide functional and unique designs for the ladies in the city to create their own statement.

SNOWMAN’s  goal is to promote the urban outdoor activities by introducing our premium 90/10 down filled outerwear. With 600 outdoor grade fill power to keep the warmth and the slim cut fit to enhance the waist, SNOWMAN is the puffer without the bulk. The collection is available in MGM resorts, The Shop @ Equinox, and retail stores throughout the East, West, and Mid-West territories. For more information visit http://snowmannewyork.com

Columbia TurboDown Wave Technology

On Monday November 3, 2014 Columbia unveiled its Fall 2015 collection which I estimate would most likely hit stores around this time next year.  The collection including a few interesting new projects.  Columbia announced the re-launch of its new and improved high-end Titanium line of clothing and outerwear.   They also discussed Vent + OutDry for footwear and recently launched TurboDown for those of you seeking warmth.

TurboDown fuses down with Omni-Heat™ synthetic insulation for lightweight warmth and heat retention.  A new baffle design (TurboDown Wave) helps eliminates areas where cold air might seep through.

The new TurboDown insulation technology uses a combination of synthetic insulation and water-resistant down in each jacket baffle, all lined with Omni-Heat Thermal Reflective, with the goal of giving the wearer the best of both worlds in terms of performance.  Tweaking the construction a bit more for Fall 2015, TurboDown Wave looks to further eliminate the cold spots where body heat escapes in more conventionally constructed insulated jackets–basically the stitching or seams between the baffles.

You can basically think of TurboDown Wave as almost a double layer of offset baffles or even as adding an offset layer of down baffles to the underside of the current TurboDown construction.

Rather than creating a traditional seam by sewing the lining and shell together to create the baffle, Columbia developed a unique method of jacket construction by combining 900 fill water-resistant down with Omni-Heat Thermal synthetic insulation running through the jacket in a ‘wave-like’ pattern with the down on both sides throughout the baffles. The lining and shell are stitched into this internal wave, rather than into each other.

Learn more about this product and other great products at the Columbia website.

Image source: Columbia

If you enjoy learning about down and cold weather clothing to help you keep warm, you can also read our recent blog post about Fjällräven the Down Experts.

Fjällräven Down Experts

Are you down for learning how to stay warm and stylish this winter?

Ever since Fjällräven was founded just over 50 years ago, they have had one strong driving force: to develop products that make it easier for people to enjoy the countryside.  Part of this commitment is dedication to helping explorers of the outdoors stay warm in the winter.

 

Do you have a good quality down jacket at home?  If you live in a region that gets cold, you really should.

When it comes to insulating qualities, nothing can outclass down as padding. Down offers unbeatable heat in relation to its weight and is fluffy, comfortable and easy to compress. Down is therefore the obvious choice for expeditions or treks in extremely cold temperatures and at high altitudes. It is also the best option on really cold days for activities that are more sedentary, such as ice fishing or dog sledding.



Fjällräven Expedition Down Jacket

As far back as 1950 Åke Nordin developed a backpack frame that sowed the seed which would go on to become the Fjällräven company. And ever since its Örnsköldsvik beginnings in 1960, Fjällräven has continued to produce innovative, functional products which are appreciated by generations of outdoor enthusiasts across the world – and which have also received a number of distinguished awards over the years.  Fjällräven has been working with down insulation for more than 40 years and they exclusively use down of the highest quality. When experienced adventurers told their founder, Åke Nordin, that their warm garments did not keep them warm enough, he made a decision.  No one should ever again have to freeze while out in nature.  This decision resulted in the launch in 1974 of the now classic Expedition Down Jacket, and since then their down jackets have become greatly appreciated across the world.

Fjällräven’s products are currently sold in around 20 countries. Over time, a few have become more or less classics – the Greenland Jacket, Vidda Trousers, Kånken Backpack and Expedition Down Jacket. They work continuously on developing materials, solutions and designs for new favorites – clothing, tents, sleeping bags and other outdoor equipment that can be used, loved and worn over many years of adventures out in the fresh air.

Continued research and development leads to success:

Goldeck Textile Fjällräven’s new insulation material G-Loft Supreme which is manufactured in a factory located in a beautiful valley in the Carinthia region of southern Austria. The material has been created and developed specifically for Fjällräven by innovator and entrepreneur August Mayer of Goldeck Textil. With more than 30 years of experience in working with synthetic materials, he knows more about polyester fibres than most, and despite being 70 years of age he is still actively involved in the production process. He says himself that G-loft Supreme is the best material he has developed and for this reason Fjällräven has been careful to secure sole rights for the material until 2024. Keb Loft and Övik Loft are their first two G-loft products and they can be found in stores already in the autumn of 2014.  Learn more: www.fjallraven.com/guides/material-guides/g-loft-supreme

How do they know that they will keep you warm?

Down Promise, follow up/monitoring to ensure that only the highest quality down is used for Fjällräven’s products, each down batch is tested at the down supplier with oversight from their inspection team. Also they take a reference batch and send another reference-batch for cross-testing to the International Down and Feather Laboratory – the IDFL. Only if the test –results match, the down is released for further use. During the whole process their inspection team regularly visits the parent farms, the hatchery, the farms, the transporters and follow the transport to the slaughterhouse and inspect also the slaughtering process. No step is left out in their control flow.  Learn more at http://www.fjallraven.com/responsibility/nature-environment/animal-welfare/our-down-promise

Down jackets of the best quality

High down quality and smart constructions are just two of the reasons why this companies down jackets are so popular. One of the technical terms you may come into contact with is CUIN (sometimes also called fill power). This is a measurement that indicates how fluffy the down is. You may also hear the terms loft and insulation, which refer to the thickness of the layer of air created by the padding and, respectively, the warming properties of the insulation. The thicker the loft, the better the insulation. The loft is determined by the blend of down and feathers. For maximum insulation, you should choose a down jacket with a high CUIN and a good mix of down and feathers.

CUIN measures insulation

CUIN stands for cubic inches per once and indicates how much volume (cubic inches) is filled by one ounce (27.3 grams) of down.  For simplicity sake, we can say that the higher the CUIN value of a jacket, the better it insulates (assuming everything else equal).

Mix of down and feathers

Down binds more air than feathers and also offers better insulation. This means that the higher the percentage of down in a jacket, the better the insulation compared to a jacket of the same weight. If you see information such as “90/10”, this means that for every 100 grams of padding in your jacket, 90 grams are down.

More details that make a difference

The Fjällräven down jackets are not popular and warm just because of their high-class down and high down ratio; they have large, roomy hoods with a drawstring opening that leaves only the eyes visible when pulled tight in really cold weather. Many also have detachable synthetic fur trim for protection from the snow. Protective flaps at the zipper stop drafts and push buttons add extra security (you certainly do not want to have a broken zipper when you are in severe cold situations).  The flaps also offer flexibility, by closing the jacket using only the buttons, moisture and heat can be released.

Most of their jackets often add extra hand-warming pockets behind the regular pockets and the shoulders are filled with extra padding to ensure that they maintain their warmth and shape even when carrying a backpack or heavy items in the pockets.

If you want to know Apparel Search’s opinion, it is that you should head to the store to buy a Fjällräven down coat as soon as possible.  They are stylish and apparently nice and toasty.

We hope that learn about this apparel company and the information that they offer regarding down and feather has been of help to you.  If you have comments about this subject, you are welcome to add your thoughts in the comment area below.