Considering investing in Down Products? Here are several things to consider before doing so.
Let's start with a brief description of Down vs. Feathers
There are two main sources of Down and Feathers on the market today. One is product from Ducks and the other from Geese. There are both grey feathers and white feathers. Feathers are two dimensional with a quill running up the center. Down is more of a puffball or something akin to a 'dust kitty' with no quill. It is this puffball that allows the down to trap air and gives it it's superior insulating abilities. It also allows breathability that synthetics do not.
Feathers are Larger than down clusters and are primarily used for support and firmness in items such as pillows and feather beds. Personally I like the firmer pillows such as the 10/90 mix offered at Creative Thread Arts. So do many of my clients because they offer perfect support as a sofa pillow. Normally the down and feathers you find in these types of items are from ducks as opposed to geese unless specifically labeled. If your label says 'Waterfowl', chances are it is duck down and / or feathers.
Down is considered to be better for comforters because Geese are larger than ducks therefore producing larger down clusters that will increase the insulating properties and of course the price as well. In short, the larger the bird and the more north in lives, the bigger and better the down. On the other hand, it is also a misperception that Duck Down is an inferior product.
As an aside...I have found in my 13+ years of selling custom made down and feather products such as pillows and custom made cushion wraps and the like that duck is NOT inferior to Goose and my clients have come to the same conclusion. I am aware that many others do not agree and my philosophy is it's all 'to taste'
Types of product constructions:
Thread Count: Thread Count is simply the total number of threads per 1 square inch of fabric. Any thread count of 230 and up is good. 100% Cotton Cambric is best for Down and Feather items of all kinds.
Sew Through: A Sewn Through construction is a style where the stitching goes through both layers of cotton and the filling is trapped in between each horizontal box. This is a great style for warmer climates and /or warmer bedrooms.
Baffle Box: A Baffle Box type (also called a tri-wall or channel tri-wall) is one where the cotton is sewn in the shape of a 3 dimensional box with another piece of cotton sewn into the center of it on slant (from Northeast Corner to Southwest corner) so the Down stays in each of these boxes and doesn't get shifted all around. Its 3D shape also allows it to retain its loft.
General Terms:
Fill power: Fill Power is a measure of 'Loft' or 'Fluff" in any finished product. The test is done by placing 1 (one) ounce of down in a clyinder and placing a weight on top of it. 60 seconds later it is checked to see how far it has sunk and is compared with the spacial markings on the cylinder. Then it is done again to the same down in the same cylinder several days later, averaged out, and this average is your fill power number. The higher the fill power, the more air the down is trapping, the better it's insulating properties and the more warmth it will retain. There are also several other factors that can influence fill power. These are sitting and settling in transit, temperature and humidity. A fill power of 650 or higher is considered high quality.
Mix: Mix is the percentage of down/feathers and possibly other fillers in an item. This Number or percentage is displayed on a law label as a fraction with the Down always being first. A law label that says 10/90 simply means that the mix is 10% Down and 90% feathers. The Government controls in the USA are somewhat loose in the feather and down industry in that there is a 10% variance allowed for the amount of down in an item. Even when it says 10% down and 90% feathers it could still be all feathers. It is always wise to deal with a reputable company that is willing to back its claims of contents.
Creative Thread Arts & Upholstery deals with these types of companies only, and has been for over 13 years. You can be assured what we claim is in there IS IN THERE.
Turbidity test The Turbidity Test in not a common specification where Law Labels are concerned but we might as well discuss it. A Turbidity test is the measure of dust, dirt and other impurities in the down. It entails filling a beaker with water and 10 grams of down. It is then shaken to within an inch of its life (15 minutes really) and then it is checked for clarity when the tester looks for crosshairs at the bottom of the beaker. The higher the water level, the cleaner the product. The highest measure is 550. Excellent! A measure of 300 is considered acceptable here in the USA.
Oxygen test An oxygen test is for organic materials that may be traveling on the down and feathers from the processing plants. It works with the same water from the Turbidity test. Its long and complicated but in essence it is applying measured chemicals to the water from the last test and shows the amount of organic materials in the product. A count of 4.8 or lower is a good passable Oxygen Test.
I am a custom upholstery shop owner, a 13+ year veteran of this trade and have been around the design and architecture industries all my life.
I am the owner/operator of www.creativethreadarts.com.Please feel free to email me or visit my site if you need any help with your home dec needs. Author grants permission of reprint with full credit and all links within intact.
