QUALITY PHILOSOPHY

High-quality down must not only possess high loft in its raw state but also be thoroughly clean. It is only under these two conditions that down can fully exhibit its thermal and moisture-wicking capabilities. Raw down often contains impurities like dust and dander. However, Kawada Feather’s facilities, being one of the largest in Japan, can eliminate most of these impurities to bring out the functionality of the down feathers.
Before washing in water, the down is de-dusted to eliminate fine dust, oxidized fats and oils, sand, and other particles present on the raw feathers. The washing process is carried out in front-load washers that utilize super soft water and a specialized down detergent, after which the down is promptly dried at high temperatures of 140 - 150℃ (284 - 302℉). The final stages are the cooling, dustproofing, and sorting processes. Each machine used in these refining phases is exclusively designed by Kawada Feather, reflecting the company’s unique principles fostered throughout its century-long history.

In the current apparel industry, the most widely distributed down is the Peking variety produced in China. However, the duck down used in NANGA’s products is of the Mulard variety from Spain. Mulard feathers are renowned for their abundant barbs and long barbules, resulting in highly dense down feathers and large down clusters.
The designated duck farm, jointly contracted by Kawada Feather and NANGA, is located on the eastern side of the Pyrenees mountain range straddling the border of Spain and France. The climatic factors, such as the significant temperature disparities between day and night, make the birds particularly strong, contributing to their outstanding meat quality and exceptional down performance, which are byproducts of poultry processing. Another notable advantage for securing a stable supply is the farm’s location away from the flight routes of migratory birds, reducing the risk of viral infections among the waterfowls.

The waterfowls are raised free-range on extensive areas of land with state-of-the-art facilities and under exceptionally hygienic environments. Their maturation period is much longer than average, which is another secret to obtaining durable and superior-quality down. While the typical down resource, mainly those produced in China, is sourced from young birds raised for less than 40 days, our partnered farm grows the birds for longer periods exceeding 80 days, which represents only about 10% of the global down supply. This extended maturation results in the development of highly resilient and lofty down feathers.

In addition to the outstanding washing technology that is globally unmatched and the premium raw down and feathers obtained in Spain, what takes NANGA’s down to another level is the unique environment of the Ise Plains that is deal for down refinement.
Kawada Feather's processing factory is located in Meiwa-cho, Mie Prefecture. Here, they are able to draw super soft water boasting a hardness level of 3 – 5 mg/L from an underground source in Mt. Odaigahara, a region known for one of Japan’s highest precipitation levels. The processing factory utilizes this pristine water resource in abundance for their washing cycles. The super soft water closely resembles pure water, and its fine particles can permeate every structural cavity of the down to remove impurities. The exceptional reducing power (antioxidation capabilities) of this water can also repair damages to the down to restore its performance.

On the other hand, when the rain on the Odaigahara mountain range passes, dry winds sweep across the Ise Plains, creating an arid environment with very little rainfall throughout the year. A unique characteristic of down feathers is that they tend to open their barbs under dry conditions, and this climate facilitates a more efficient removal of impurities.