Down jackets are not quite as noisy as say hard shells, but thanks to all that polyester, they are not exactly quiet either. In their quest to eliminate the swish-swish sound of your favorite down jacket, Patagonia came up with a way to make them more eco-friendly and fair to workers, too. Meet the Silent Down family of jackets.
Soft, stretchy and quiet, the Silent Down Jackets are made with 70% recycled polyester taffeta with a DWR finish that sheds moisture and increases durability. It has mechanical stretch for all-day mobility and a supple, broken-in feel.
The jackets are insulated with 100% recycled down reclaimed from used duck and goose down products. It’s a mix of either 600- or 700-fill-power goose and duck down reclaimed from cushions, bedding and other used items that can’t be resold. The reclaimed down is washed, using detergent and thermal water at 34 degrees Celsius, then dried at 135 degrees Celsius (20 minutes longer than the industry standard), making it hypoallergenic. Recycled Down offers the identical performance benefits to virgin down.
The Silent Down pieces are also made via Fair Trade Certified sewing. Fair Trade Certified means products are made according to rigorous social, environmental, and economic standards. The Fair Trade agency works closely on the ground with producers and certify transactions between companies and their suppliers to ensure that the people making Fair Trade Certified goods work in safe conditions, protect the environment, build sustainable livelihoods, and earn additional money to empower and uplift their communities.
Patagonia’s new Silent Down collection features a variety of jacket styles for both men and women, ranging in price from $228 for the Silent Down Shirt to $349 for the Silent Down Parka.