Down Creators, your European supplier of down and feathers
For many years, Down Creators has challenged the core principles of how down and feathers are processed and sorted. Though continuous investments in innovation and technology we are able to obtain the highest down quality levels available on the market. With our strong sourcing and flexible processing capacity, we can supply a wide variety of down and feather qualities, with different origins and certifications.
What is Down
Down is the fluffy coating on the belly underneath the feathers of Geese and Ducks. It is considered the world’s softest and most efficient natural insulator.
Its 3-Dimensional structure has thousands of tiny fibres radiating from the core (plumule), enabling Down to trap air and wick away body moisture, making it a preferred filling material for duvets, pillows, jackets and other products.
About Feathers
Feathers are the outer layer of birds, either Geese or Ducks and have a flat 2-Dimensional structure with a hard quill with fibers extending from it. While feathers are larger and heavier than down, both materials combined make for a great fill as they offer support, durability and resilience at a more affordable price.
There are many types of feathers, ranging from big pointy feathers to small soft fluffy feathers. At Down Creators, all feathers go through various cleaning and sorting cycles in order to select the softest and smallest feathers.
Advantages of Down and Feathers
Breathable
A down filling has the ability to take in humidity and gradually release it back into the air. This creates a dry and comfortable environment and prevents you from sweating.
Thermoregulating
Down has the ability to regulate your body temperature in a natural way without overheating. This makes it a preferred filling material for both light summer and warm winter products.
Light & Voluminous
Down possesses an exceptionally high volume-to-weight ratio, attributed to its fine down fibers interlinked into clusters. This unique characteristic makes it an ideal filling material for lightweight and fluffy jackets or duvets.
Duck Down Compared To Goose Down
Many factors can affect the quality of duck and goose down, such as age, maturity, health, and climate. However, if the birds are the same age and have similar living conditions, goose down is generally considered to be a superior, more expensive, and luxurious filling material.
This is due to the fact that geese are bigger animals and have larger down clusters, which makes for a great insulator. Furthermore, they often have a higher fill power, meaning that they can trap more air and keep you warmer.
However, when comparing duck down with goose down, it is important to look at quality levels such as down content and fill power, and not only the species. Duck down with a high fill power can be often of a higher quality than most regular goose down and proves to be a strong price competitive alternative.
At Down Creators we are specialized in duck down with a similar or even higher fill power compared to goose down due to our strong sourcing of larger duck species.
Animal Welfare
Down and feathers are a by-product form the meat industry and are upcycled to create a sustainable and high performing insulation material. Through our strict control over the sourcing and with a traceability system we can ensure that all animal welfare regulations are met and that no live plucking is performed. As a guarantee for animal welfare, we can provide both DownPass and RDS certification.
Sustainability
At Down Creators we are committed to a sustainable production process with natural materials. Down and feathers are an upcycled by-product that is biodegradable and recyclable. They have 85-97% less impact on the environment and 18 times less impact on climate change compared to polyester fillings. By continuously investing in our processing technology, we are able to reduce water, soap and energy consumption by up to 50%. This further improves the sustainability of all our down and feather fillings, making them a truly green product.
Available Certifications
OEKO-TEX Standard 100
All our down and feathers hold the OEKO-TEX 100 Standard certification, guaranteeing the safety for close skin contact and affirming their freedom from harmful substances.
GRS Recycled
We are able to offer a wide variety of recycled down and feathers, with GRS (Global Recycling Standard) certification.
RDS - Responsible Down Standard
At Down Creators, our foremost dedication lies in the ethical and sustainable sourcing of down and feathers, ensuring the well-being of animals. To ensure our commitment to ethical practices, all our down and feathers can be made available with RDS-certification.
DownPass
All of our down and feather products can be made available with the DownPass certification, demonstrating traceability and a commitment to the highest quality standards.
Available Certifications
Standard 100
All our down and feathers hold the OEKO-TEX 100 Standard certification, guaranteeing the safety for close skin contact and affirming their freedom from harmful substances.
We are able to offer a wide variety of recycled down and feathers, with GRS (Global Recycling Standard) certification.
Down Standard
At Down Creators, our foremost dedication lies in the ethical and sustainable sourcing of down and feathers, ensuring the well-being of animals. To ensure our commitment to ethical practices, all our down and feathers can be made available with RDS-certification.
All of our down and feather products can be made available with the DownPass certification, demonstrating traceability and a commitment to the highest quality standards.
A Brief History of Down and Feathers
Down is a unique insulator only found in three families of animals, ducks, geese, and swans. The word “down” comes from the Old Norse word “dúnn”, which had the same meaning as its modern equivalent. In many of today’s garments and bedding products, down fill and feathers are widely used and known for their exceptional insulating characteristics but have a lesser-known history that dates back hundreds of years.
During the Middle Ages, people often used to sleep on beds filled with hay, leaves, wool and animal skin, but the straws would make it hard and uncomfortable, consequently, the wealthier people found a solution. They started filling sacks with very soft goose or duck feathers, which turned out to be the better choice compared to the previous.
Today, down is one of the preferred filling materials on the market for high-end bedding and apparel products. Almost all down comes exclusively from the meat industry and is considered a by-product. After extensive washing and treatment, a noble, light, and soft insulator is obtained which has proven to be one of the best (if not the best) insulators on the market.
