Material Care Guide"Down"

Table of Contents)

・What Is Down?

・Everyday Care for Down Items (After Wearing)

・At-Home Care for Down Items (At the End of the Season)

・Helpful Items for Care

What Is Down?

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Down is a type of waterfowl plumage—the soft, fluffy feathers found on birds such as ducks and geese. It is often used as filling in bedding, coats, and other cold-weather items, making it a material commonly seen during the winter months.

Waterfowl plumage consists of down and feathers. Down refers to the soft, cotton-like plumage found on the breast of waterfowl. Because it lacks a central shaft, it is soft and traps a large amount of air, giving it excellent insulating properties. Feathers, on the other hand, grow on the wings and body of waterfowl and have a central shaft, offering good breathability and resilience. The higher the proportion of down, the warmer and lighter the item; the higher the proportion of feathers, the better it holds its shape and springs back into form.

❶The down traps air and creates a layer that prevents body heat from escaping, giving it excellent insulating properties.

❷It is light and soft, offering a comfortable feel without any sense of pressure.

❸It absorbs and releases moisture well, making it comfortable and resistant to stuffiness.

❹It has enough resilience to withstand washing and compression, allowing for long-term use.

❶It is vulnerable to water, and its insulating properties decrease when wet.

❷It may not be washable at home.

❸Even when it can be washed at home, it takes time to dry completely.

❹Mites and mold can develop inside the item, and components of the down itself can sometimes trigger allergies.

❺Down can escape through small holes, gradually causing the fabric to lose its fullness over time.

Everyday Care for Down Items (After Wearing)

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For down jackets and other garments, dirt and dust tend to collect after wear, so gently brush the surface with a soft brush that has short bristles. Be careful, as a brush with bristles that are too stiff may damage the material.

Since down is vulnerable to moisture, store the item on a hanger in a well-ventilated space. When down is compressed, its insulating properties decline, so allow enough room in storage for the item to hang in a loose, fluffy state.

Items with materials such as leather on the outer surface tend to trap moisture, and if left as is, mold, mites, and bacteria can easily develop. We recommend wearing the item once every 2 to 3 days to allow trapped moisture to escape.

Professional dry cleaning or at-home care is effective for keeping down items fluffy over the long term. However, washing too frequently can cause the item to lose its shape, so unless dirt or odor is particularly noticeable, it is best to reserve thorough care for the end of the season under normal use.

At-Home Care for Down Items (At the End of the Season)

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At the end of the season, caring for the item at home or having it professionally cleaned before storing it away can help prevent stains, deterioration, and insect damage while it is put away.

First, check the care label. If it shows a washing symbol or a hand-wash symbol, the item can be washed at home. If the label indicates hand-washing is not possible, or if the item partially contains materials such as wool or leather, please consult a professional cleaner.

・Neutral detergent

・Sponge

・Basin (or sink)

・Dryer

・Dryer balls for washer-dryers (tennis balls or dry towels can be used instead)

・Hanger

Before washing, check for any tears or damage. If you find a tear, repair it using a commercially available repair patch or similar product. Once you've confirmed the item is in good condition, fasten any front buttons or zippers securely. Then brush off any dirt or dust from the surface.

Dissolve a neutral detergent thoroughly in enough water (at a temperature of 30°C or below) to fully submerge the item.

When choosing a detergent, avoid ones containing bleach or fabric softener, as these can damage the down.

For areas prone to getting dirty, such as the collar around the neck (where sweat tends to collect) or the cuffs near the pockets, spot cleaning before the main wash is recommended. Soak a soft sponge or towel in the detergent solution and gently scrub away the dirt.

Gently fold the down jacket and press-wash it slowly and carefully. Please do not rub or knead the down, as this puts strain on it.

After press-washing for about 5 minutes, change to fresh water and press-wash again in the same way to rinse out the detergent. You're done once the water is no longer cloudy and no more bubbles form. (Guideline: about 2–3 times)

After gently pressing out the water, place the down jacket in the washer-dryer along with dryer balls made for washer-dryers. (Use 1–2 balls for smaller loads, 3–4 for larger loads.)

Since down is sensitive to heat, set the dryer to a low temperature. Repeat drying for about 10 minutes at a time, 3 to 4 times.

Check on the jacket as you go, taking it out partway through to loosen any clumps of down before continuing to dry it.

After drying, hang the jacket on a hanger and let it dry thoroughly in a well-ventilated shaded area or indoors.

If you're not using a washer-dryer, don't wring the jacket when removing water; instead, gently press it with a towel to absorb the moisture.

To help prevent the jacket from losing its shape or the down from clumping unevenly, lay it flat on a towel in a well-ventilated shaded spot until much of the moisture has drained out.

Once the jacket feels lighter and most of the moisture has gone, hang it on a hanger to dry thoroughly. Please be careful, as insufficient drying can lead to mold or deterioration.

After cleaning, store the jacket wrapped in a clean cloth or non-woven cover, along with a moth repellent and a moisture absorber.

Here are some items that will help with your care routine

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◆KENT Cashmere & Wool Care Clothes Brush

Made from natural materials, this brush is easy to use and resists generating static electricity. It can be used not only on down jackets but also on wool jackets, suits, coats, and more. It's also handy during pollen season for brushing off pollen before bringing it into your home.

◆Laundry Liquid (Detergent) (ODOR CONTROL)

Since the outer fabric of down jackets is often mainly made of synthetic fibers, we recommend "ODOR CONTROL," which focuses on removing odors and bacteria.

◆Dryer Balls for Washer-Dryers

These allow you to achieve a fluffy finish even without fabric softener, so they can also be used for towels and bedding. Since they're unscented, they're safe to use for households with small children or people with sensitive skin. If you'd like a bit of fragrance, try adding a few drops of essential oil.

◆Classic Cedar Hanger

With a thickness of about 3.8 cm, this thicker hanger helps prevent down jackets, suits, and similar items from losing their shape. The pleasant scent of cedar also offers moth-repellent and moisture-absorbing benefits.

◆Natural Camphor

The fragrance of natural camphor wraps around your clothes, providing solid protection. Since it's naturally derived, its scent fades quickly once exposed to air, so you won't need to worry about a lingering moth-repellent smell.

Depending on the outer fabric or materials used in certain parts of the jacket, full washing may not always be possible, so it's a good idea to consult a professional cleaner if you're unsure. With the right care, you can enjoy a warm, fluffy down jacket season after season, all winter long.

List of Down Product Brands

NANGA

NANGA traces its roots back to Yokota Sewing, founded in 1941, which originally manufactured kotatsu futons and floor futons. Entering the 1960s, the company became known both in Japan and around the world among mountaineers as a maker of sleeping bags and down jackets using premium down. Its approach to manufacturing is sincere and solidly built, with an unwavering commitment to the safety and quality of its down—so much so that its products come with a lifetime warranty. NANGA hopes that everyone who wears its down jackets or uses its sleeping bags can feel a sense of safety, security, and comfort.

DANSKIN

With the tagline "Mind and body. Live as yourself.," DANSKIN has been an active-wear brand since its founding in 1882, evolving alongside the bodies of professional dancers and other women, supporting their movement and helping expand what's possible. Listening closely to the needs of both mind and body, DANSKIN serves as a companion to all women who wish to be a little better today than yesterday, and a little better tomorrow than today—offering a range of items that combine functionality with silhouettes designed to beautifully flatter the body.

K-WAY

K-WAY（ケーウェイ）is a rainwear brand born in Paris in 1965. It was conceived by a designer who saw people running through sudden downpours, soaked to the skin, and wanted to create rainwear that could handle unexpected rain. Pursuing the ideal combination of compactness, light weight, high water resistance, and stylish design, this rainwear has been loved not only for everyday city use but also by people enjoying sports, as an item that can withstand demanding conditions such as yachting, skiing, and mountain climbing. In fact, K-WAY（ケーウェイ）rainwear is such a standard item in its home country of France that it's said to appear on packing lists as an essential item for children's school outings.

Stevenson Overall Co.（スティーブンソン オーバーオールズ）

Stevenson Overall Co., which looks back on the good old days of clothesmaking and creates workwear with a classic style, began with a meeting of fate between Zip Stevenson and Tsuyomori Tagaya. Back in the 1930s, there was a small factory in Indiana, USA, producing high-quality workwear. After learning of this factory's dedication to craftsmanship and its existence—a factory that had closed under the pressures of the Great Depression—and discovering that its name shared the same surname as Zip's own last name, the two relaunched it anew in 2005 as "Stevenson Overall Co." Centered on denim pants and work shirts, they continue to pursue the true essence of clothing, right down to the smallest details and the careful, painstaking sewing process.