DOWN CIRCULATION

NANGA DOWN GUIDE 01

DOWN CIRCULATION

The Circulating Life of NANGA's Downs

NANGA promotes a circulating life cycle of down
Learn more about its four-part cycle

The down used by NANGA begins as high-quality, raw down imported from overseas. It is then cleaned and processed by a Japanese down and feather manufacturer before being made into NANGA's finished products. These products can be used anywhere––from the city to the great outdoors––and their lifespans can be prolonged with proper care. When a down product finally becomes worn out, a recycling project allows that down to be brought back to life as a new product. NANGA promotes a circulating life cycle of down, and here are the four stages of that cycle.

1. THE SECRET OF THE DOWN
Which part of the bird's feathers is referred to as down? The ins and outs of down.

The term "down" refers to the feathers that grow on the breasts of waterfowl. Down is light and offers great insulation, along with the ability to pass moisture into the atmosphere. Balls of down are known as "down clusters." Down is a precious material as it can only be collected in small quantities from a single bird and is not found on land fowl. Only waterfowl grow down as they need to protect themselves against the loss of body heat in their waterside habitats. The downs that are used as materials for manufactured products come primarily from two kinds of waterfowl: geese and ducks. Goose down is large. Its fine, soft fibers provide excellent insulation and water absorbency. In contrast, duck down is firm and springy, which gives it great resiliency. Duck downs are ideal for giving the products a firm loftiness.

2. KAWADA FEATHER
Kawada Feather, Japan's leading specialist in down refinery.

The down that NANGA uses in its products goes through a cleaning process at Kawada Feather, a Japanese down and feather manufacturer. Raw waterfowl down is covered with dust and grime that is invisible to the naked eye; when left untreated, it can degrade the down's insulation performance as well as promote the growth of bacteria and dust mites. Situated on the Ise Plains in Mie Prefecture, Kawada Feather's main factory is fully equipped with the company's very own purification and processing equipment. The water provided by the bountiful, mountainous environment is a key factor in the cleaning and purification process. The dry climate promotes the down to expand, which further enhances the factory's ability to remove dirt. The pristine and super soft quality of the water is perfect for washing away dander. Kawada Feather reaps the full benefits of its environment, advanced technology, and human craftsmanship to produce beautiful down.

3. HOW TO WASH
Down can be washed at home! Learn the proper way to wash down.

Washing down products will degrade their quality––this is a very common misconception. The truth is that proper washing will cleanse the down of absorbed perspiration and oils, bringing back its fluffiness. There is no need for frequent washing. However, we would like to share with you the correct method for washing down, so that you can comfortably enjoy the full benefits of down products.

01

Place the down in a mesh laundry bag.

01 Place the down in a mesh laundry bag
02

Select the same washer cycle on your washing machine that you would use for a blanket.

02 Choose the same setting on your washing machine for a blanket
03

Do not use the spin cycle. Instead, wring out the down by hand and dry it in a shaded area out of direct sunlight. Then, pat down the feathers with both hands to de-clump them.

03 wring the down out by hand and dry it in a shaded area out of direct sunlight
4. DOWN RECYCLING SYSTEM
Green Down: The down recycling project

The Green Down Project advocates the reuse of down, which is a finite resource. The aim is to collect down products that are no longer being used, regardless of the manufacturer, and refines the downs to repurpose them as new products. The project offers several benefits.

The key benefits of recycling down

Environmental impact
Reducing waste, reusing resources, curbing carbon dioxide emissions, providing environmental education

Promotion of employment of persons with disabilities
Commissioning the sorting and disassembly processes of down products

Contribution to local communities
Developing a partnership with the Red Feather (Central Community Chest of Japan)

Stable supply of down
Increasing down supply and stabilizing prices through recycling

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