What is Down?Down comes from the underbelly of geese. It is a natural insulator that allows them to enter the icy waters without loosing vital heat. No synthetic filling can match the insulating ability of down. To the surprise of most people, down and feathers are not the same. Feathers have quills and are adapted to let air and water slip over them. A cluster of down is spherical and has thousands of soft fibers radiating from a central point. This construction is superbly adapted for holding air, thus retaining warmth.
How is the Quality of Down Determined?
One method used to determine the quality of the down is by loft or fill power. It is determined when one ounce of down is placed in a standardized container and allowed to expand. The higher the down lofts the more insulation for a give weight. The fill power of our down is 650 to 700. Most others range from 550 to 600.
How is the quality of a Down Comforter Determined?
The Down
Alpine Down products are made only from white goose down. The down is taken from mature geese in Hungry and Poland. Older geese have larger clusters than younger geese. The clusters are stronger and able to withstand years of use with almost no deterioration in quality.
The Processing
The processing of down is a very critical procedure. The raw material is washed, blown dry, sanitized and then, through an air channel process, sorted by size and weight in preparation for comforter assembly. Each stage is very important because any error can take away from the qualities of the down. For example, if the temperature is too high during drying, the down may loose its oils and resilience (ability to retain its shape). The experienced craftsmen in Austria are masters at down processing, every comforter they make is the finest quality.
The Ticking
Ticking refers to a strong, tightly woven fabric of cotton used to make covers for down products. Our ticking is made from long staple Egyptian cotton, considered the best in the world. It is woven to a 254 thread count, which is excellent for pillows and comforters. It is down proof meaning it prevents the smallest down and feathers from working their way through the material.The Construction
All Alpine Down comforters are sewn through in squares. We feel this construction is the most practical because it keeps the down-in-place. Other constructions allow the down to shift or move inside the comforter when you sleep. They must be shaken on a regular basis to redistribute the down. Most people find this to be a hassle.Our square construction keeps the down evenly distributed, looks wonderful on the bed, and requires only an occasional fluffing.
Our Level of Quality
American standards allow comforters to contain up to 20% feathers and still be labeled “All Down”. Alpine Down products adhere to the European RAL standard of excellence, which requires a higher level of quality. Our Vienna Premium, Salzburg Premium, and Zurich Premium comforters are all in the 95% to 99% pure white goose down. 100% down is impossible to achieve because there are some very light feathers. Our Vienna, Salzburg, and Zurich comforters are in the 88% to 90% pure white goose down to meet the demand of a lower priced comforter. The ticking, processing and construction are the same high quality as the premium line.
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