Down, Feather, Hypoallergenic Pillow Inserts Information, FAQ

All products are filled with white goose down, duck down or blends of feathers and down. We source our materials from Europe and Asia.
All our comforters are encased in a “supersoft” 100% down proof cotton ticking. We use the CentroClean™ sterilization process to remove allergens from our products. This process (described below) is specifically created for washing feathers and down and in addition to sanitization and maximum sterilization, results in feathers of great curl and loft. All our products are highly sanitized and hypoallergenic. We also manufacture synthetic/polyplush options and of course we’d be happy to answer any questions about our hypoallergenic, synthetic products, too.

DOWN
Down is the cluster found on the underbelly of a goose or a duck. The clusters of soft, fine fibers stem from a central point. As they interlock they trap air. It's the air that keeps you warm. Different birds from different climates develop different qualities of down. Generally, the colder the climate, healthier the diet and more mature the bird, the larger and warmer the down cluster. The ultimate qualities of down offer the most warmth with the least amount of weight. This is why a higher quality down, which has a higher fill power and loft, offers the most warmth.

FEATHERS
Feathers are the outer plumage of a waterfowl. Feathers have a quill and are flatter than a down cluster. They are thicker and do not trap air as efficiently as a down cluster. Many of our products are a mix of down and feathers. We offer these blends to provide products at varying price points, support preferences and warmth. Generally, more down in a product yields a fluffier and softer pillow or comforter. More feathers yield a firmer pillow or comforter.

FILL POWER
Fill Power is the standard that measures the number of cubic inches filled by an ounce of down. The more space an ounce "fills," the warmer the product. The more space it occupies, the more air it traps. (It's always the air that provides the warmth and “fluff”.)
The down collection offers white goose down at 650 fill power. This means that one ounce of white goose down occupies 650 cubic inches. The same amount of Duck Down fills only 550 cubic inches. White goose down is fluffier, (it traps more air), providing more warmth. Ounces of fill are determined by how you want the overall product to look and feel. Our standard products are carefully measured to insure maximum warmth for your investment. We can manufacture custom products to meet specific client specifications.

LOFT
Loft is fondly referred to as the "pouff" or “fluff” of a comforter or pillow. It’s achieved by having air flowing through the comforter or pillow.

TICKING
The fabric around the comforter or pillow.

DOWN PROOF
Fabrics that allow the down to "breath." Without oxygen, the feathers and down become flat and do not provide warmth. Down Proof ticking also prevents the fill from leaking.

GERMAN COTTON PIPING
We use 100% cotton piping on all our pillows and comforters because it is durable and can withstand the high heats of industrial dryers.

BAFFLE BOX CONSTRUCTION
Ticking is sewn with interior walls that separate the down into box shaped compartments. This displaces the down evenly throughout the comforter and prevents it from lumping and helps to maintain its loft. The "baffle” height is 1 1/4", which keeps the two layers of ticking lifted apart to allow air to evenly flow throughout the comforters.

THREAD COUNTS
Thread count is measured by the number of stitches sewn per inch. Thread count for our collections range from 235TC to 330TC. We can customize to your design specifications.

CENTROCLEAN™ STERILIZATION PROCESS
Our feather and down products are all thoroughly cleaned, exceeding industry standards. We use a specialized cleaning process called CentroClean™ to insure that our products are highly sanitized and hypoallergenic. We wash our feathers and down for a minimum of 50 minutes using Henkel/Fluidol K 6 German detergent. This product is specifically created for washing feathers and down. The feathers are rinsed 20-30 times until the water is both clean and tested. Once the wash line is quality checked, the feathers are sent to steam dryers, resulting in feathers of great curl and loft. Our sterilization process meets hypo-allergenic requirements -- The CentroClean™ process removes allergens and dust from down and feathers.