News Duvet

Down quality varies greatly from one region in the world to another. Weather is not the same in China, France or Canada, therefore, birds produce different qualities of down. The main difference among them is measured by their filling power rate. Down is only produced by aquatic birds such as ducks and geese. Filling power rate shows the volume value in cubic inches that takes one onze of down. The higher this value, the better will be the quality. A high rate warranties a better down, coming from mature birds. The more mature the bird, the better its down. Compromiso between density and heat is extraordinary. This down is light, incredibly warm and lasting. A low filling power rate will tend to lose volume in the course of the years, given the weak threads of this young down. The filling power rate ranges between 375 and 800 cubic inches/onze.

In 1995, China produced roughly 50% of down in the world. You can find Chinese duvets with silky shells. On the whole, stitching quality is good, but not for the down. Why? Down comes from birds raised to get “Peking roast duck” where ducks are raised from 6 to 12 months. This is why its meat is so soft (excellent choice for culinary purposes) but down is fragile and small. In order to get a down with volume and strong fibers, it must come from a mature bird. Time is the one that lets birds to develop its natural mechanisms of defense against cold weather. Filling power rate of chinese down varies between 300 and 475 cubic onzes/onze. Living conditions of these ducks are deplorable. In order to favor their growth, these birds are raised at temperatures between 17 and 19 °C. These kind of farms exist also in Europe.

European duvet is extremely diverse if we talk about manufacturing or down quality. However, European down has a lower quality than Canadian one. If compared to northamerican weather and conditions, ducks and geese in Europe stand warmer winters (Central Europe never reaches a -40 °C). Furthermore, the european down often comes from geese and not from ducks, because geese are raised to produce “foie-gras”. Down coming from this continent is better in quality than chinese one, but birds never reach maturity since farmers kill them before developping a big and strong down.

Filling power of European down generally ranges from 475 to 675 cubic inches per onze. Down manufacturers in Europe are protected by the . European Association of Feather Industries and bedlinen

The canadian duvet has an excellent reputation thanks to the quality of its finishings and content. Practically all down inside these duvets comes from the same country. Canadian geese and ducks produce the best down quality. This quality is due to extreme weather conditions of this country (–50 °C during the winter, 30 °C in the summer) and to the birds age (between 3 and 4 years).

Filling power of canadian down varies between 575 and 800 cubic inches per onze. Hutterite geese are birds raised in natural conditions, this means “outdoors”. Hutterite community keep their traditional European bird breeding, an activity that came with them when they arrived to this country. They promote the respect for these animals

Downmark Association of Canada emits a label for its member manufacturers that warranty filling their products with goose or duck down. Manufacturers are then allowed to use this label on their products. If you want to be sure that your product contents original, new and treated down, look for products with these label.