EverythingYou Need to Know About Buying Ethically Sourced Down Products. A growing number of brands are prioritizing the welfare of the birds that supply the feathers stuffed into items like jackets, comforters, and pillows.
Read more: https://www.audubon.org/news/everything-you-need-know-about-buying-ethically-sourced-down-products
At Outdoor Retailer show, Allied Feather and Down emerges as full-spectrum ambassador for integrity of nature, environmental conservation.
Below-zero temperatures make backcountry skiing and camping in Utah’s Wasatch Range a cold but beautiful challenge.
A down jacket is a definite essential to have when you live in a mountain town — or any place where snow can fall or drastic temperature drops can occur.
Read more: https://www.elevationoutdoors.com/gear/n-dirty-stio-hometown-hooded-jackets
Get Down: Expedition Portal Put Six Feather-filled Jackets to the Test
Read more: https://expeditionportal.com/get-down-we-put-six-feather-filled-jackets-to-the-test/
From intelligent drones to ‘levitating’ tents, the future of the outdoors industry is nothing if not unique.
Read more: https://gearjunkie.com/roundup/outdoor-gear-trends-2017
At the winter market 2016 edition of Outdoor Retailer, more than 1,000 brands showed the new products for Fall 2016. Here’s a recap.
Read more: https://www.gearpatrol.com/outdoors/a198535/best-of-outdoor-retailer-2016/
Revolutionary developments aimed at improving the enduring insulation we know as “down fill” are helping make traveling light and staying dry a lot easier.
Read more: https://gearography.com/get-up-on-down/
2015 Holiday Gift Guide: Giving the Gift of Adventure
Read more: https://www.gogumption.com/gear-reviews-2/2015-holiday-gift-guide/
As ALLIED shifted its bedding production in its Commerce, Calif., manufacturing facility to produce facemasks in early March, the family owned company began to realize just how big this need was going to be on a global scale.
While the response focused at first on healthcare workers and disenfranchised populations such as those experiencing homelessness, the pandemic response has highlighted just how many people are vulnerable — including critical frontline service providers necessary for everyday life.
By now it is widely reported that American healthcare workers are facing a shortage of facemasks and other PPE as we continue to fight the COVID-19 pandemic, but they are not the only ones at risk. “When we started producing masks in our Commerce facility, we never imagined the extent and volume of the need. When we starting talking to our hospitality and institutional partners, it became clear that we could install the same mask manufacturing program in all our global facilities to help serve the needs of all these front line service workers that put their health at risk to help make our lives easier,” said Steve Uretsky, founder and CEO of Los Angeles-based Allied Feather + Down.
In April the global supplier of down and home bedding began the conversions of its bedding manufacturing facilities in Asia, Europe, and at a new facility opening in Montreal. ALLIED has now gone from shipping between 10,000 to 15,000 masks a day, to providing millions of reusable cotton masks to service industry providers. By the end of May, ALLIED will be shipping more than 3,000,000 masks to prominent hotels and resorts, with the ability to add capacity as needed.
According to Vox.com, new research shows that universal mask-wearing helps slow the spread of Covid-19. “New York City, with a population of about 8.4 million, has had over 28,000 coronavirus deaths as of May 18. Meanwhile, Hong Kong has officially recorded only four Covid-19 deaths, despite having 7.5 million residents. One reason that could help explain the stark disparity: In Hong Kong, nearly everyone wears a face mask in public.” According to data from the University of San Francisco, universal mask-wearing could be one of the most important tools in tackling the spread of COVID-19. Researchers cite a medical study currently under peer review which shows that more people wearing “less effective” reusable, non-medical masks is just as effective as medical grade masks.
However, this widespread use of disposable masks comes with a heavy impact on the environment. Unfortunately, disposable masks are not sustainable by definition at this scale, and the environmental nightmare this has the potential to become has not fallen on deaf ears. Already in Hong Kong, discarded masks are washing up on beaches and posing a threat to marine life.
“While we understand the critical need to use face masks, we fear disposable masks are already becoming the new cigarette butt. We found that what we did with our bedding factory in Montebello could be used as a model for our global facilities in Asia, Europe and Canada to offer our hospitality industry associates masks that help keep their employees safe while doing so in a way that is also beneficial for the planet and cost effective over the long term,” continued Uretsky. “By repurposing existing fabrics and creating a product that remains effective through washing, we can help minimize the use of disposable masks that are already starting to become a blight on the landscape.“
For more information about ALLIED wholesale face mask availability, contact info@alliedhospitalitybedding.com.
Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while simultaneously driving innovation within the insulation market for over 30 years. The family owned and operated business has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. Through the creation of programs such as the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and Track My Down, ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the welfare of animals while protecting the environment. ALLIED remains a family owned company with facilities worldwide and is proud to produce the highest quality down demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces. Visit www.alliedfeather.com/.
ALLIED Hospitality is the sister finished bedding division to Allied HOME, a family-owned global manufacturer of luxury bedding products designed and manufactured to deliver superior quality and comfort to hospitality and commercial customers. ALLIED Hospitality manufacturers down and synthetic-filled bed pillows, comforters, blankets, mattress pads, and protectors for leading hotels, resorts, cruise lines, timeshare and vacation rental companies, and other institutional users. Based in Los Angeles, CA, with a strategic manufacturing and distribution footprint across the US, Canada, Europe, and Asia, ALLIED Hospitality prides itself on its unwavering commitment to luxury,craftsmanship, comfort, and sustainability delivered through long-lasting and trust-based partnerships. ALLIED Hospitality and ALLIED HOME are divisions of ALLIED Feather + Down, the industry leader in expertly supplying responsibly sourced down to the apparel industry for more than 30 years. Visit www.alliedhospitalitybedding.com
MONTEBELLO, Calif., Nov. 25, 2019 — ALLIED Feather & Down is responding to an article making the rounds in consumer media highlighting the importance that brands, retailers and consumers know where their down comes from.
The industry faces a challenge from factories sourcing and improperly processing down, and providing material to brands and the end consumer, that has no way to ensure animal welfare, overall cleanliness and quality, not to mention questionable environmental practices.
It is more important than ever that brands and retailers work with reputable suppliers like ALLIED — where all material is third party certified, and has been proven as the benchmark for cleanliness throughout the world.
The story in question is about a 43-year-old man from Scotland, who became ill and was ultimately diagnosed with “feather duvet lung” contracted through his down bedding. Fortunately he has made a full recovery.
Feather Duvet Lung disease is a type of Hypersensitivity Pneumonitis triggered by exposure to avian proteins present in the dust of the feathers of a variety of birds. While it is extremely rare that someone is so sensitive to bird protein, the condition has been around for a long time and is also known as Bird Fancier’s Lung, usually affecting people such as pigeon breeders.
The fact that a 43-year-old, otherwise healthy man was diagnosed with this condition due to his bedding actually creates a larger question that consumers are faced with at an increasing rate, and that is, how is a product that produces the amount of dust necessary to make someone sick allowed to be sold?
BACKGROUND ON DOWN AND DOWN PROCESSING
The down and feather used as insulation in bedding and garments is a byproduct of the food industry. It is aggregated and purchased by suppliers like ALLIED, and further washed and processed to remove all extraneous material. It is then separated to provide higher down cluster percentages while maintaining the right amount of natural oils for resiliency and durability.
This is not an easy or a quick process; and increasingly, factories and suppliers are looking to cut corners and provide less expensive material to manufacturers from questionable sources and unknown washing processes. One can more quickly wash down with harsh chemicals, but this leads to a brittle material that easily breaks up into fibers, and ultimately into the type of dust affecting those who are extremely sensitive to bird proteins.
A NEW RETAIL PROBLEM
A recent article from The Wall Street Journal exposed how Chinese factories selling on Amazon occasionally sell mislabeled down products. In the best cases, products purchased by the Journal and labeled Goose Down were tested by third parties and determined to be Duck. We know that if this very basic information is disregarded, it is almost certain that the material has not been washed and processed properly.
In 2015, Canadian retailer Jysk had to recall down duvets because the down material sold to them failed to achieve the content or cleanliness required by law. And with the expanding Amazon and direct e-commerce marketplace, such testing and fail safes are often non-existent, which allows questionable products to make their way to the consumer and creates a false economy that brands, retailers, and consumers need to be aware of.
THE SOLUTION
ALLIED has long said that “not all down is created equal,” and this has become increasingly important as we see the growth of generic suppliers and vendor sourcing with little to no concern for either animal welfare or proper processing. Even the current sourcing certifications do not account for quality and/or chemical management. It is quite possible to see “responsibly sourced down” processed in the most irresponsible way.
More than ever, it is important to know where your down comes from and how it has been processed. ALLIED pushed the industry forward in animal welfare certification, having helped create the Responsible Down Standard, but also stands proud as having been identified by independent health and allergy laboratories as the industry standard for cleanliness.
In a world of discount e-commerce and fast fashion, it is not only important to know where your down came from, but how it was washed.
“ALLIED has spent millions of dollars and countless hours ensuring our position as industry leaders in animal welfare, and we are equally proud of our sustainable processing methods that have shown to provide the cleanest down in the industry,” said Daniel Uretsky, President, ALLIED Feather & Down. “We are honored that some in the industry have followed our lead to create a more sustainable, cruelty free, and transparent source for the finest natural insulation on earth, and we will continue to invest in educating and protecting consumers from fraudulent and irresponsible sourcing, and from potential allergens.”
THE FUTURE
After helping to create the globally recognized Responsible Down Standard (RDS) with The North Face, and gifting it to the Textile Exchange in 2014, ALLIED wanted to take education around sustainable down and the global supply chain to the next level. TrackMyDown was originally born in Fall 2015 with five partner brands signing on, and the innovative online traceability tool recently signed its 100th partner brand to the ALLIED TrackMyDown program. Partner brands globally from the outdoor, lifestyle, fashion and bedding industries now use the tool and the identifiable hangtags, along with several major online retailers.
About ALLIED Feather & Down
Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while simultaneously driving innovation within the insulation market for over 30 years. The family owned and operated business has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. Through the creation of programs such as the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and Track My Down, ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the welfare of animals while protecting the environment. http://www.alliedfeather.com/.
ALLIED, a producer of down and feather insulation, will be offering annual support and donating 1 percent of the total sales from its HyperDry water-resistant down to POW, starting immediately.
The brand also now produces 100 percent of its water-resistant down without the use of Fluorocarbons (FCs).
“Other conservation organizations are more focused on protecting space. POW is actively engaged in changing consciousness, and this is what I think is so important. It speaks to Allied’s brand ethos, throughout all of our platforms, to help change the way people see and interact with an ingredient like down,” said Allied President Daniel Uretsky. “This partnership is really about taking our winters back. Working together, we can really make a difference.”
Torrey Udall, POW’s Manager of Development and Operations, said, “The opportunity to head into the cold should be a guarantee extended to all future generations. Allied and its leadership have been a material part of the solution on climate and we are proud to have them join POW as a partner. This goes double for our industry.”
Along with financial support, Allied will work with POW through a variety of platforms to help get their shared message out to the public.
“With all the work we do and the partners we have, Allied is in a unique position to leverage our partnership with POW into multi-brand messaging, speaking out for the planet ” said Creative Director Matthew Betcher. “Together we will work with our multitude of partner brands to open larger audiences to engaging social-, print- and event-driven content to try to change legislation, and rethink how conservation works in the 21st century and beyond.”
Protect Our Winters is a 501(c)(3) nonprofit that engages and mobilizes the outdoor sports community to lead the fight against climate change through educational initiatives, political advocacy and community-based activism. Founded by pro snowboarder Jeremy Jones in 2007, Protect Our Winters works with businesses, athletes and the community to harness the collective power of the outdoor sports industry to take meaningful action against climate change. For more information, visit protectourwinters.org.
Leading down supplier will have the largest supply chain of recycled down certified to the GRS, one of the most robust recycled content certifications available
Montebello, California — With a long history of sustainability, social responsibility, and transparency, ALLIED Feather & Down is once again taking the lead on sustainability with its latest news: Today, ALLIED announced that it has received certification to the Global Recycled Standard (GRS). GRS is an internationally recognized product standard for tracking and verifying the content of recycled materials in a final product, while ensuring strict production requirements.
With the planned expansion of this certified supply chain, ALLIED is now the largest certified supplier of high-fill power recycled down, and is able to provide assurance to the consumer through the GRS that the material comes from a post-consumer supply chain and was processed through sustainable means. ALLIED will be supplying TITANIUM:RENU to the industry’s most sustainable and performance driven brands.
Receiving this highest level of certification is an important milestone for ALLIED. Certifying recycled down is a tricky endeavor: because it can not be traced for animal welfare, it’s essential to ensure that the down comes from a 100% post-consumer supply chain. ALLIED’s GRS certified product, TITANIUM:RENU, now achieves this. The GRS provides assurance that TITANIUM:RENU is not blended with untraceable virgin material. This has become a very real problem in the marketing and selling of recycled down. As down prices reached historic lows, a “recycled” product could be sold with a premium price with unscrupulous suppliers blending in virgin material to reach high fill powers and produce larger margins. But without any sense of traceability, it could be subject to possible animal welfare violations. The GRS ensures that all material was collected from post-consumer products.
It also factors in others issues pertaining to environmental and social criteria, such as the processing methods, detergents, and verification that all parts of the post-consumer goods are being recycled, ensuring the integrity of the final product. In the case of ALLIED’s supply chain, the majority of the fabric shells are being recycled and turned into fibers which are currently being used by ALLIED to develop a new synthetic insulation while those not able to be repurposed for fibers are being used to generate energy.
“We are extremely excited to now offer a 100% post-consumer recycled product that rivals the quality, cleanliness, and durability of the finest virgin down in the world AND that is certified to the highest and most robust standard available today,” says Daniel Uretsky, ALLIED’s President. “This has been a multi-year supply chain mapping exercise looking at the down supply chain and considering product manufacturing, consumer habits, and ultimately overlaying the post-consumer supply chain map. Our research has allowed us to identify regions that are producing extremely high quality recycled goods, so that our GRS certified down is also the highest performance down.”
“TITANIUM:RENU is also a game changer in its complete scope through significantly reducing and repurposing waste,” continues Uretsky. “To simply recycle the one bio-degradable part of these goods is a bit disingenuous. We wanted to ensure that every part of the product is being repurposed and have gone through great lengths to work with this supply chain to ensure this happens.”
ALLIED’s GRS certified TITANIUM:RENU™ is offered in both grey and white with a range of 700-800 fill power, though due to the nature of the inconsistency of post consumer material will only be marketed as 700 fill power. It is a technical performance-driven product which, unlike many recycled down offerings, is uniquely reprocessed in order to meet the highest quality standards, designed to be used season after season with no significant loss to loft, warmth, or compressibility.
In addition, to the GRS Certification, ALLIED’s TITANIUM:RENU™ is also certified to the Recycled Content Standard (RCS), certified by SCS Global.
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About ALLIED Feather & Down:
ALLIED Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for over 25 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. ALLIED values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces. To learn more about ALLIED, please visit http://www.alliedfeather.com/.
Montebello, Calif. — (For Immediate Release) ALLIED Feather & Down announced the addition of its 100th partner brand to the proprietary TrackMyDown.com education and supply-chain transparency tool, which was awarded ISPO Gold from the world’s largest outdoor industry tradeshow group this year.
After helping to create the now globally recognized Responsible Down Standard (RDS) within its supply chain in collaboration with The North Face, and gifting it to the Textile Exchange in 2014, ALLIED wanted to take education around sustainable down and the global supply chain to the next level. TrackMyDown was originally born in Fall 2015 with five partner brands signing on: Peak Performance, Feathered Friends, Montane, Daniadown, and Merrell. Now, the family-run business welcomes its 100th partner brand to the ALLIED TrackMyDown family.
Partner brands globally from the outdoor, lifestyle, fashion and bedding industries use the tool, along with several major online retailers, and many are beginning to integrate the revamped traceability and education platform on their own consumer-facing websites as well.
“We are truly honored that the industry has been willing to follow our lead to create a more sustainable, cruelty free and transparent source for the finest natural insulation on earth,” said Daniel Uretsky, President, ALLIED Feather & Down. “We knew it was necessary to develop a tool that would engage the potential purchaser of a down product to help them make more informed decisions. As we continue to be at the forefront of global issues such as Palm Oil Free Certification and reduction of microplastics in the environment, we applaud all of our partner brands and others working to make a difference in the apparel and bedding industries.”
The TrackMyDown.com platform has evolved from not only a traceability tool, but to an educational resource for all. Users are visiting more than just the sourcing pages, with 1.9 average page views per visitor and almost 2 minutes on-site.
“Yes, it is incredibly important to know where your down came from in regards to animal welfare, ” continued Uretsky. “But we always saw the RDS and other standards as the foundation for the real work, and now we are able to communicate source complexities and environmental benefits to consumer directly and through our brand partners at point of purchase.”
Also of note, earlier this year ALLIED Feather & Down was the first non-chemical company in the outdoor industry to launch a home laundry solution for down. “With our knowledge of down backed by 30 years perfecting an environmentally responsible, industry-leading washing and processing method, we thought we could do the same for finished goods and for the down consumer,” said Uretsky. “Down can be mishandled quite easily by using the wrong detergents. We knew that with our knowledge of the material and our relationships with our bluesign partners, we could bring something to the market that performed better for down products than currently existed.”
The quest to bring this important product to consumers is what led ALLIED to seek and achieve Palm Oil Free Certification from the POFCAP — the first International Palm Oil Free Certification Trademark and Certification Program in the world. This also makes ALLIED only the fourth U.S. company to achieve this level of certification and sustainability.
>>Media Alert: In an effort to keep up with the modern demands of the retail consumer, and move beyond the QR codes that ALLIED innovated on hangtags for this purpose back in 2015, ALLIED is announcing a new real-time down traceability tool based on optical tagging at the Consumer Electronics Show this January (2020) in Las Vegas. We will have a small prototype in the booth at Outdoor Retailer June 18-20 for one-on-one demonstrations of this never-before-seen technology.
About ALLIED Feather & Down
Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while simultaneously driving innovation within the insulation market for over 30 years.
The family owned and operated business has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. Through the creation of programs such as the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and Track My Down, ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the welfare of animals while protecting the environment. ALLIED remains a family owned company with facilities worldwide and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces. To learn more about ALLIED, please visit https://www.alliedfeather.com/.
For more information, samples, appointments and media relations, contact:
Formidable Media
Scott Kaier, Public Relations Director
802.238.7577
Montebello, California-December 6, 2017
Larsen’s 8-day Lake Winnipeg course covers winter expedition training, product/gear education, wilderness navigation skills, and more
Montebello, California (December 6, 2017) — This January, one aspiring polar adventurer will win a free chance to train with and learn from one of the world’s best, Eric Larsen, thanks to a joint scholarship from Larsen’s sponsors ALLIED Feather & Down and Helly Hansen, also a close partner of ALLIED. The course is designed to teach the necessary skills and systems required on a winter adventure – whether that’s a weekend excursion or a full expedition to one of the poles.
The Polar Training Scholarship fund, with an estimated $8,000 total value, is a unique opportunity for one deserving outdoor-minded individual to join Larsen’s Level 1 Polar Training Course, taking place on Lake Winnipeg, January 12th – January 21st, 2018. The recipient will join other participants for comprehensive hands-on instruction and training, which culminates in a 4-day winter mini expedition. All necessary gear, equipment, travel costs, and course fees will be provided to the recipient thanks to generous donations from ALLIED and Helly – both of which have been longtime supporters of Larsen and his expeditions.
Larsen, a polar adventurer, expedition guide, and educator, has spent the past 20 years traveling in some of the most remote and extreme environments on the planet. To date, Eric has completed more North and South Pole expeditions than any other American in history.
“We realize that while many people are interested in participating in this type of experience, there are certain barriers – be it financial, perceived physical ability, or concerns about the cold – that can often seem insurmountable,” says Larsen. “Our goal is to give someone an adventure of a lifetime, no matter what their obstacle may be.”
Larsen has long been a perfect fit to represent ALLIED, with their focus on comfortably getting folks out into the cold, and they’re excited to help one more person enjoy the polar experience. “When Eric approached us about this scholarship, it was a no-brainer for us,” says Matthew Betcher, ALLIED’s creative and marketing director. “Every new person who gets to experience this spectacular environment is one more person who will want to help maintain this and other extreme, remote arctic landscapes – and that’s a win for all of us. But many people could never experience this type of adventure, for a number of reasons, so we wanted to help at least one be able to. And we certainly plan to continue this in the future.”
The course is designed to teach the skills associated with modern-day polar travel, while completing a ‘mini’ expedition in conditions nearly identical to the poles. This adventure will provide a challenging, yet safe, opportunity to experience the many facets of expedition life.
Interested people can learn more and apply here. The deadline to apply is Friday Dec 22nd, 2017. The winner will be selected from an array of criteria and will be selected on December 29th, 2017.
About ALLIED Feather & Down:
ALLIED Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for 30 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. ALLIED values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces. To learn more about ALLIED, please visit http://www.alliedfeather.com/.
About Helly Hansen
Founded in Norway in 1877, Helly Hansen continues to develop professional-grade apparel that helps people stay and feel alive. Through insights drawn from living and working in the world’s harshest environments, the company has developed a long list of first-to-market innovations, including the first supple waterproof fabrics almost 140 years ago. Other breakthroughs include the first fleece fabrics in the 1960s, the first technical base layers in the 1970s, made with Lifa® Stay Dry Technology, and today’s award winning and patented H2Flow® temperature regulating system.
Helly Hansen is a leader in technical sailing and performance ski apparel, as well as premium workwear. Its ski uniforms are worn and trusted by more than 50,000 professionals and can be found on Olympians, National Teams, and at more than 200 ski resorts and mountain guiding operations around the world. Helly Hansen’s outerwear, base layers, sportswear and footwear are sold in more than 40 countries and trusted by outdoor professionals and enthusiasts around the world. To learn more about Helly Hansen’s latest collections, visit www.hellyhansen.com
About Eric Larsen
Polar adventurer, expedition guide, and educator, Eric Larsen has spent the past 20 years traveling in some of the most remote and extreme environments on the planet. To date, Eric has completed more North and South Pole expeditions than any other American in history. Included in that list are the first ever summer expedition to the North Pole as well as a world record expedition to the South Pole, North Pole and top of Mt. Everest all within a 365-day period. In May of 2014, Eric and team mate Ryan Waters traveled unsupported from northern Ellesmere Island to the Geographic North Pole in 53 days in what realistically will be the last North Pole expedition in history. The journey was featured on Animal Planet in the the US and Discovery Channel globally and in his book On Thin Ice: An Epic Final Quest into the Melting Arctic. Eric has dedicated his adult life to sharing his love for the outdoor world with others.
Now the leading supplier for the outdoor industry, ALLIED has become a beacon for sustainability and animal welfare efforts.
Montebello, California-November 20, 2017
Now the leading down supplier for the outdoor industry, ALLIED has become a beacon for sustainability and animal welfare efforts
Montebello, California (November 20, 2017) — This month, a brand many have never heard of – but has been enjoyed by the vast majority of consumers who have ever bought a down comforter, sleeping bag, or jacket – turns 30 years old: ALLIED Feather & Down has been a powerful force in the outdoor industry longer than most of its partner brands have even existed.
In 1987, company founder Steve Uretsky, after working for years in the down industry, saw the need for an insulation brand supplying high quality performance-driven down insulation to the growing outdoor industry. Starting with a small warehouse outside of downtown Los Angeles, ALLIED has since grown to include three facilities across the USA, two in China, a processing facility in Vietnam, and a new down processing and bedding manufacturing facility in the Czech Republic totaling over 1-million square feet. ALLIED is now the outdoor industry’s largest supplier of down insulation. They’re even currently working on a program that would provide made-in-the-USA products from egg to consumer.
“We’re incredibly proud to have been an integral part of this industry for the last 30 years, and are certainly honoring our own accomplishments this year,” says ALLIED’s founder and CEO, Steve Uretsky. “But this is about so much more than ALLIED: Through innovation in down and feather insulation – ours and others in the industry – the world has been able to enjoy the outdoors on an exponentially greater scale over the last 30 years! That’s why we started this and it’s still the driving force behind our growth and future endeavors. We’re continuing to work hard to make sure we all maintain that privilege forever.”
While ALLIED is constantly looking to the future with innovative products and techniques, this benchmark anniversary deserves a closer look at the venerable brand’s past. Allied’s been at the forefront of many of the industry’s biggest innovations and landmarks over three decades. Here’s a short history of the brand and a few key product/innovation examples:
HISTORY:
● November, 1987: ALLIED Feather & Down is born with a whole new way to source and process down.
o In 1987, the down supply chain is just a network of brokers selling raw material to mostly bedding manufacturers and other suppliers who would sell that material on to outdoor and apparel companies. At this time, there’s no transparency beyond this broker and no one really know what the down they’re using is coming from.
o Looking beyond the brokers and developing relationships directly with the slaughterhouses and farms, ALLIED begins to source the highest quality down, providing a level of consistency and precision unmatched to this day.
● 2009: Signature home bedding brand ALLIED home launches
● 2010: ALLIED becomes the first down supplier to earn bluesign® system partner designation, showcasing their ongoing commitment to the environment and sustainable processing.
● 2011: ALLIED becomes the first company of its kind to engage a third party to audit and review their entire supply chain.
● 2012: ALLIED moves into current L.A headquarters, as part of major expansion
● 2013: ALLIED works with The North Face and Control Union to audit global supply chain in order to build what would eventually become the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), now one of the largest animal-welfare standards in the industry.
● 2014: The North Face, ALLIED, Control Union and other shareholders gift the RDS to Textile Exchange as an industry standard. ALLIED becomes the first adopter and supplier of RDS certified down. ALLIED continues as the largest supplier of RDS certified down. At this time, ALLIED home also becomes the first bedding manufacturer offering RDS certified bedding products to retailers.
● 2015: ALLIED launches traceability tool Track My Down, allowing consumers to track the complete history of the origin and quality of the down inside their garment.
● 2016: Achieves 100% third-party certification. This means that all of ALLIED down comes from sources certified to either the RDS, TDS, or brand-level supply-chain initiative backed by the support of animal welfare organizations.
KEY NUMBERS
● November 1987: ALLIED operates in 12,000 square feet in shared warehouse in Commerce, CA. In 2017, ALLIED’s operations span over 1-million square feet, with processing facilities and offices in Montebello, CA; Commerce, CA; Summerville, SC; Hangzhou, China; Anhui, China; Hanoi, Vietnam; Czech Republic.
● Original capacity of 100,000 Kg of down/feather; Now almost 7 million Kg annually.
o That’s enough YEARLY to fill Empire State Building 5 TIMES with ALLIED down.
● Since 1987, ALLIED has processed enough down to outfit over 280,000 Everest summit attempts.
● ALLIED supplied over 2.6 million pounds of RDS-certified down in 2016 alone. This is enough to fill over 4 million heavy parkas!
● The company began with only a few large accounts; ALLIED now has over 250 different brand partners.
KEY INNOVATIONS
● Pioneered water-resistant down treatment along with Sierra Designs.
○ Sierra Designs releases first product with DriDown in 2012
● Developed an industry leading sustainable processing method using environmentally friendly detergent with a water recycling program that allows ALLIED to recycle approximately 65-million gallons of water annually.
● Other innovations: anti-microbial treatments; infrared active down; down and down alternative fiber blends; technologically innovative traceability treatments, and consumer-facing traceability tools.
About ALLIED Feather & Down:
ALLIED Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for 30 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. ALLIED values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces. To learn more about ALLIED, please visit http://www.alliedfeather.com/.
After years of development, ALLIED Feather + Down is proud to release its new LOFTECH™ insulation – the closest synthetic insulation to natural down ever developed – at the Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, August 3rd-6th, (Booth 155-407), along with its first recycled down product. Both products will be available for partner products’ 2017 lines.
As the industry leader in down and feather insulation, ALLIED’s new products were developed with the same exceptionally high standards that the company holds for its natural down. All LOFTECH™ insulations feature a unique synthetic cluster built around fibers of varying deniers and fiber construction to mimic the natural down cluster. With this variation of size, type and shape, LOFTECH™ clusters are able to bind to each other better than other 3-dimensional synthetics, trapping more air and ultimately creating more warmth. Other similar insulations on the market currently use a single denier manufactured in a very uniform way which reduces warmth and increases cold spots caused by normal washing.
LOFTECH™ will ultimately come in three varieties: Summit, an elite-performance product to be launched at ORSM; plus a recycled and an organic option, both to be released in upcoming seasons. Summit has been tested to have the loft of 625 fill power, with warmth closer to a 700 fill-power goose down. It is twice as warm as the nearest competitor.
The development of these new “blowable synthetic” insulations is based on the desire to create insulation options that allow for a wide range of uses and greater warmth ratings. Until now, most similar synthetic insulations have required very small baffles, limiting their use to lighter weight outerwear. Products that require larger baffles, such as warmer parkas and sleeping bags, are now possible with LOFTECH™.
“The launch of our Summit series – which is the ultimate in performance – establishes a new benchmark in down-like alternatives. There are very few good blowable synthetic insulations. With LOFTECH™, we set out to create a series of premium blowable insulations that would act and feel more like down but with some added benefits,” says Daniel Uretsky, President of ALLIED Feather & Down. “We know down, so we started there, using our knowledge of the down cluster to build a synthetic fiber cluster based on the properties that make down so successful.”
The same high standards were applied for their recycled down. Titanium:RENU™ is not just another “greener” offering, but a top-quality down that happens to be recycled. Uretsky continues, “Recycled down is also nothing new to the down industry, but for ALLIED it was important that we were able to offer a product that would perform like virgin down, with the consistency, quality and durability our partners have come to expect. We have spent the last year understanding the complex supply chain of post-consumer material and have identified partnerships that allow us to now offer a true performance recycled down.”
TITANIUM:RENU™ is offered in both grey and white with a fill power within ALLIED’s titanium range (700-800 fill power). It is a unique technical product which, unlike most recycled products, can be used season after season with no significant loss to loft, warmth or compressibility. They are also working with SCS global services and their Recycled Content Certification to certify and label at the product level that the material comes from 100% post-consumer goods.
About ALLIED Feather & Down:
ALLIED Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for over 25 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. ALLIED values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces. To learn more about ALLIED, please visit http://www.alliedfeather.com/.
In yet another sustainability milestone, ALLIED Feather & Down has completed certification to become the industry’s largest supplier of down certified under NSF International’s Global Traceable Down Standard (TDS).
At the start of 2016, ALLIED estimated over 70% of their down had been certified by independent third parties to ensure that all down had been collected from humanely treated birds. With this new certification, in one of Europe’s largest supply chains, ALLIED is much closer to the company’s ultimate goal of having 100% of its down certified by 2017 and immediately brings to market an unprecedented amount of TDS certified down, allowing their partner brands another alternative in responsibly sourced and traceable down.
ALLIED is also working to certify additional supply chains that will make Global Traceable Down a viable option for a larger number of brands and retailers across the outdoor, fashion, and bedding industries – giving brands the choice of selecting the standard that works for them. The extremely comprehensive criteria in TDS provides the highest level of protection to animals from live plucking, confinement in tight spaces and force feeding. These are similar to the other major certification, the Responsible Down Standard (RDS), but TDS takes this one step further: NSF International, the organization that oversees the process (including the standard development, auditing and certification), also requires the mother animal to be treated under the same rules.
Cara Chacon, Senior Director for Social & Environmental Responsibility at Patagonia, adds that, “The Global TDS is the strongest standard available to protect geese and ducks in the meat industry from cruel practices such as live-plucking and force-feeding. We applaud the commitment ALLIED Feather & Down has demonstrated to best in class animal welfare and down traceability practices.”
According to NSF International, it was particularly important to go beyond other existing programs, which start at the hatchery, and extend protection to parent farms. All organizations handling the down are audited and verified to have good management systems in place to keep the certified down segregated from conventionally-sourced down.
“ALLIED’s leadership in the down industry is further strengthened by the work they have done regarding their certification to the Global Traceable Down Standard,” said Jenny Oorbeck, General Manager of NSF Sustainability, a division of NSF International. “They have been a valued partner in the implementation of the Global Traceable Down Standard within their organization and beyond.”
ALLIED estimates that with this certification alone, more than 1 million birds can now immediately be certified under the TDS. They’re currently securing certification for additional sources which will at least double its amount of TDS-certified material.
“We’re incredibly proud of achieving TDS certification, especially on such a huge scale. We feel if we’re going to claim responsibly sourced products, we need to meet the most rigorous standards, and do it in a big way – even if that means changing a law that potentially benefits everyone, including our competitors,” says Daniel Uretsky, ALLIED’s President. “In addition to our popular Track My Down program, I think we make a powerful statement that we’re committed to responsible practices no matter the scale, difficulty or cost. Our consumers deserve that.
About ALLIED Feather & Down:
ALLIED Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for over 25 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. ALLIED values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces. To learn more about ALLIED, please visit http://www.alliedfeather.com/.
About NSF International:
NSF International is an independent organization that writes standards, tests and certifies products for the construction, food, water and commercial and consumer goods industries to minimize adverse health effects and protect the environment (nsf.org). Founded in 1944, NSF is committed to protecting human health and safety worldwide. NSF is a World Health Organization Collaborating Centre for Food and Water Safety and Indoor Environment. NSF Sustainabilityoffers a range of standardized and proprietary methods of measuring sustainability for organizations, products, processes, supply chains and services. Through its National Center for Sustainability Standards, NSF has developed animal welfare and sustainability standards for product categories such as down, chemicals, building products and materials, and water quality. NSF works with leading regulators, scientists, engineers, public health and environmental health professionals, and industry representatives to develop these transparent, science-based standards, protocols, and product category rules.
Responsible Down Standard-certified products and TrackMyDown.com showcased at this week’s New York Home Fashion Market.
New York, NY (September 28, 2015) — ALLIED home, the innovative insulation division of ALLIED Feather & Down, along with London Luxury, the leader in luxury and innovative utility home textiles, through their exclusive partnership, will showcase responsible sourcing, consumer-traceability, and insulation technologies at New York Home Fashion Market (NYHFM), Sept. 28-Oct. 1 in Manhattan.
The Trackmydown.com (TMD) initiative – the industry’s first comprehensive consumer-facing down-traceability website, that allows down users to see where their down comes from, as well as important information such as a verified fill power, cleanliness, and a final content analysis – will be featured at both the ALLIED Feather & Down and London Luxury showrooms. Both will also feature finished products, all of which are RDS product-level certified as well as part of the TMD program.
“The Track My Down program has been a huge success in the outdoor apparel industry, and we’re proud to now bring it to the bedding industry, in partnership with the leader in bedding innovations, London Luxury,” says Daniel Uretsky, President of ALLIED Feather & Down. “Responsible Down Standardscertification is very important, but it doesn’t tell the consumer everything they should know about their down. We’d ultimately love to see all natural fill meet these responsible-sourcing standards, and we are equally passionate about bringing this information to consumers, where they can engage deeper with the product. RDS certification with the proprietary Trackmydown.com tool is definitely a win-win-win for the consumers, brands, and geese and ducks.”
“We are thrilled to be the first to bring RDS and Track My Down to retail, and we are doing it in a big way,” adds Marc Jason, CEO of London Luxury. “At London Luxury, we strive to be first to market with innovation. RDS and TMD provide retailers and consumers alike with a trusted seal of approval that insures the highest standards of quality, transparency, and the most important independent verification possible.”
Since the development of the tool with the outdoor apparel industry one year ago, the program has proven highly successful. ALLIED has worked with a number of prestigious apparel partner brands to launch the tool for the fall 2015 season with garments on the racks now. London Luxury is bringing this unique, proprietary tool to the down bedding market, with products hitting shelves in the coming months.
To see the bedding collection, visit the London Luxury showroom at 295 Fifth Ave, Suite 817. For an appointment, please call: 212 679-8300 akeller@londonlux.com.
ALLIED’s showroom is located at 15W. 28th St. (7th floor). To schedule an appointment please contact Matthew Betcher: matthewbetcher@alliedfeather.net.
About London Luxury LLC
London Luxury LLC is a leading global manufacturer of premium products for the home with a focus on innovation, advanced technology and strategic brand marketing. London Luxury has exclusive long term partnerships with a myriad of leading global iconic brands and exclusive rights to a number of innovative bedding technologies. The company is headquartered in New Rochelle, New York, with an extensive showroom in New York City and international quality assurance offices around the globe. For more information please visit our website: www.londonlux.com.
About ALLIED Feather & Down:
ALLIED Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for over 25 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. ALLIED values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces.
Natural, wax-based treatment with proprietary application technique facilitates the development.
With a long history of social responsibility and transparency, ALLIED Feather & Down is again taking the lead on sustainability with its latest news: They’ve developed a new water-resistant (WR) down treatment that completely eliminates fluorocarbons without sacrificing performance. Using new technology, all of ALLIED’s water-resistant down will be fluorocarbon free by 2017.
ALLIED has been working towards this since the company first starting experimenting with FC-free treatments five years ago. This lead to their first FC-free waterproof down product, HyperDRY ECO, which was first available for Fall ‘15 products. This was a positive first step in reaching the company’s larger goal of having all of ALLIED’s waterproof down be fluorocarbon free.
After years of research, the R&D team at ALLIED has finally achieved this, having developed a process combining a unique, natural-wax-based treatment utilizing a proprietary process that results in less water usage and better performance, while guaranteeing greater adhesion and no chemical discharge.
Highlights of the new process, by the numbers:
“From the outset, our final goal was to offer only one waterproof down product which is not only FC free, but treated in the most environmentally sensitive way,” says Daniel Uretsky, ALLIED’s President. “With this new initiative, everyone – consumers, brands and retailers – can be confident that starting in 2017, ALLIED’s water-resistant down will be FC free from egg to finished product. And that it will be produced in the most sustainable way available.”
Consumers who demand FC-free water-resistant down now, however, need not wait. Many of ALLIED’s partner brands are already using its original FC-free product, HyperDRY ECO. Montane, for instance, is already 100% FC-free for their entire line of 2016 WR-down apparel.
We’re very proud to be FC free in our entire ’16 down apparel line. ALLIED’s product has been meticulously developed and is absolutely on par with Montane’s exceptional quality standards,” says Marketing Manager Terry Stephenson. “And of course we also love the fact that it’s 100% RDS certified and offers the Track My Down program.”
ALLIED will also be giving back by partnering with 1% for the Planet to help clean the waterways and wildlife damaged by the previous use of fluorocarbons in the industry. Starting immediately, all purchases of the newly formulated FC-free HyperDRY down will result in a 1% donation to the foundation. More on the details will be released soon.
About ALLIED Feather & Down:
ALLIED Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for over 25 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. ALLIED values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces. To learn more about ALLIED, please visit http://www.alliedfeather.com/.
Allied Feather & Down, primary supplier of down certified to Textile Exchange’s Responsible Down Standard (RDS), is now supplying RDS certified down to leading brands in the Outdoor, Home and Bedding, and Fashion markets including: The North Face, Eddie Bauer, Marmot, Mammut, Nau, Outdoor Research, Helly Hansen, Montane, Down Linens, and Down & Feather Co.
The Responsible Down Standard (RDS), which launched in January 2014, is a third-party certified animal welfare and traceability standard to help ensure humane treatment of geese and ducks from goslings to finished products. RDS Certified down is expected to hit retail in select Fall 2015 lines.
The goal of the RDS is to protect animals from harm and enable traceability at a global scale throughout the entire down industry. Early adoption of RDS down by world-renowned brands signifies the importance of such an initiative and represents a major step forward for the RDS in becoming a global standard for shifting the industry towards better practices.
Down and feather are by-products of waterfowl that are farm-raised for their food supply and industrial farming of animals poses the potential for mistreatment. Public concern originating from animal welfare groups to issues such as live-plucking and force-feeding elicited the need for more transparency in the down industry specifically, which sparked the concept of the Responsible Down Standard. In 2012, The North Face in partnership with Control Union Certifications, an accredited third-party certification body, and Textile Exchange, a global nonprofit dedicated to sustainability in the textile industry, developed the concept for the standard, which first involved developing a clear understanding of where the down was coming from. Needing to start with the very beginning of the supply chain, the group called on Allied.
Allied recognized the importance of facilitating greater transparency in how its down is procured and sourced. Allied supported the research and development of the standard by walking Control Union through every step of its supply chain, evaluating conditions and identifying where auditing should take place as a way to certify that there is no live-plucking, force-feeding or any other mistreatment of animals, from gosling to finished product. Allied then became the first supplier to adopt the standard when it launched in January 2014. Allied has also began offering educational seminars for brands, retailers, media and industry stakeholders on origins of down and responsible sourcing.
“We are pleased to see the entire down industry talking about these issues and taking ownership of animal welfare and responsible sourcing. Transparency is key—starting at the source. Allied has been 100% on board throughout the development of this standard and we will remain committed to it as a leading supplier of RDS certified down and educator on responsible sourcing,” said Daniel Uretsky, President of Allied Feather & Down.
Earlier this summer, Allied’s supply chains in Europe and Asia and its U.S. processing facilities were audited and certified by Control Union. Completion of these certifications has enabled Allied to offer RDS Certified down to buyers in the Outdoor, Home and Bedding, and Fashion industries.
“Having such a diverse and well respected group of brands adopt the RDS so quickly is great news,” said Anne Gillespie, Director of Industry Integrity at the Textile Exchange. “It will certainly help this new industry standard to gain momentum, and ultimately bring about the shift in industry practices that is our ultimate goal.”
According to Uretsky, many of its vendor partners are finding peace of mind in using RDS certified down. It offers insurance for brands and assurance for consumers and NGOs that leading brands are taking the greatest measures possible to ensure responsible sourcing of the down used in their products. A brand’s corporate social responsibility (CSR) stance is an important consideration for consumers; they want to make responsible purchases. Knowing that the down inside their jacket was from well-treated animals assures consumers that the brand they choose to wear adheres to their own values.
“Down is a critical component of mountain clothing and ensuring that it is competently and respectfully sourced is a responsibility any brand in the outdoor industry must ensure,” said Paul Cosgrove, Brand Director of Montane. “RDS down from Allied can professionally provide this with a high specialism and quality that few can achieve. It’s for this reason we will use RDS down from Allied Feather & Down.”
Allied encourages brands to adopt the RDS so that they may ensure animal welfare and they may reassure their customers that they are choosing the most responsibly made products.
About Allied Feather & Down:
Allied Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, Allied has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for over 25 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. Allied is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. Allied values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, home and fashion marketplaces.
Allied Feather & Down, the outdoor industry’s primary supplier and processor of down, has completed the audit and certification process of the Textile Exchange Responsible Down Standard (RDS) for a significant percentage of its global down supply chain. The North Face, one of the original creators of the RDS has committed to purchasing the majority of this down and will be integrated it into products beginning in Fall 2015. This commitment signifies a major step toward bringing responsibly sourced down to market.
The RDS was developed by The North Face in partnership with Control Union Certifications, an accredited third-party certification body, and Textile Exchange, a global nonprofit dedicated to sustainability in the textile industry. Allied supported the development of the RDS by leading The North Face and Control Union Certifications through their global supply chain, evaluating conditions and identifying where auditing should take place as a way to certify that there is no live plucking, force feeding or any other mistreatment of animals, from gosling to finished product. In addition, the RDS has strict traceability requirements to validate the source of certified down and feathers.
“We are proud to be the first to offer down from global RDS certified supply chains. We are thrilled to have partners like The North Face and other leaders in the industry adopting this comprehensive standard,” said Daniel Uretsky, COO of Allied Feather & Down.
The North Face is currently working with Allied and Control Union to apply the RDS across every level of its down supply chain. Starting in 2015, The North Face will source 30 percent of its overall down from a fully audited and RDS-certified supply chain and incorporate it into its Fall 2015 product line. The North Face aims to source and integrate RDS down for 100% of down products by 2017.
“We are excited to announce the forthcoming reality of more responsible down in our products through the partnership of Allied, among others,” said Adam Mott, Director of Sustainability, The North Face. “The RDS is currently the broadest and most comprehensive approach to animal welfare available in the down supply chain. Through its collective use, the industry will see improved animal welfare conditions and better traceability in the down supply chain at a much larger scale than The North Face could accomplish alone,” he said.
Today at 9:00 a.m. at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, Allied (#155-306) will be presented with official RDS certifications for its China and Europe supply chains by Control Union.
Also, in keeping with Allied’s commitment to education and the RDS, Allied will be offering a breakfast seminar at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market. Representatives from Allied, Textile Exchange and The North Face will educate vendors and retailers on how working with Allied and the RDS brings added value to their brands and products. The seminar will be held at Outdoor Retailer on Friday, August 8 at 7:30 a.m. in the Salt Palace, room 151G. Vendors and retailers interested in hosting additional seminars should contact communications manager, Lauren Fallert, lfallert@verdepr.com.
About Allied Feather & Down:
Allied Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, Allied has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for over 25 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. Allied is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. Allied values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, home and fashion marketplaces.
Allied Feather + Down, a global supplier and processor of down within the home and outdoor industries, is building on its commitment to transparency by offering global educational seminars to vendor partners, retailers and consumers. The goal of these seminars will be to educate users on the natural qualities of down, Allied’s practices and products, and down industry trends.
Allied’s decision to host educational seminars was inspired by the unmet demand for additional information on sourcing and procurement practices. In talking to retail and vendor partners, it became apparent that a majority of individuals with a vested interest in down were lacking information on even the basic facts such as the difference between feather and down. As the industry leader, Allied is making it their responsibility to educate vendor partners, retailers, and consumers.
“After being approached with many questions on down and on our practices over the years, we have come to realize that there is a lot of confusion in the market place when it comes to down,” said Daniel Uretksy, COO of Allied. “Most people we have spoken to- from consumer to manufacturer- have limited knowledge on this byproduct beyond the words “fill power”. Allied is taking initiative to ensure that people are well informed on what’s inside their jacket or bedding that is keeping them warm.”
The seminars will be hosted by Daniel Uretsky and may incorporate guest speakers from third parties such as International Down and Feather Testing Laboratory (IDFL), Textile Exchange,and Control Union.
The Allied Educational Seminars will address topics such as:
Down 101: The anatomy of down
Quality: How the down is chosen and how it is tested
Innovations in down technologies
Sourcing: Where the down is sourced from and how it is collected
Traceability: Steps Allied is taking to show where their down is coming from
Allied Down and its commitment to the Responsible Down Standar Seminars open to vendors, retailers and consumer
“We just returned from our first educational seminar in Hong Kong which we hosted with IDFL; the event was a huge success,” said Uretsky. “We had triple the attendance we were anticipating. After seeing the value this brought to our audience, we are eager to map out the next stops on this tour.”
Allied hopes that the seminars will help to educate users of down and dispel the misconceptions while continuing to lead the down industry by encouraging transparency.
The debut of the educational seminars in North America will be held at a breakfast at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market, on Friday, August 8. Vendors and retailers interested in hosting a seminar should contact communications manager, Lauren Fallert, lfallert@verdepr.com.
To learn about down in the meantime, visit Allied’s FAQ page.
About Allied Feather & Down:
Allied Feather & Down is the world’s leader in the manufacture of the highest quality downs and their blends. Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, Allied has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while driving innovation within the market for over 25 years. The family-run operation has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. Allied is committed to safeguarding the environment and transparency in ensuring the welfare of animals, which contributed, in part, to their prestigious bluesign® approval. Allied values longstanding relationships with the largest suppliers on the planet and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, home and fashion marketplaces.
LOS ANGELES, Sept. 14, 2011 /PRNewswire/ — Allied Feather & Down, a global, family-owned purveyor of feather and down, today announced that it has received certifications stating that all Allied products are bluesign® approved for textile manufacturers. This approval marks the first 100% natural, feather and down products to receive the bluesign® certification and places the company on an elite list of approved raw components for textile manufacturers committed to following the most stringent, environmentally-friendly standards without compromising functionality or quality.
The bluesign® standard guarantees that along the entire production chain, products only contain components and pass through processes that are harmless to people and the environment. The bluesign® standard is built around five key principles – resource productivity, consumer safety, air emission, water emission and occupational health and safety – and is designed to foster a healthy, responsible textile industry.
Allied Feather & Down provide a 100% natural, environmentally-friendly product that has evolved for 300 million years, saves energy and offers the world’s best insulation. Down and feathers are a unique natural resource which Allied manufactures via proprietary processes that take sustainability into careful consideration. Always vigilant of their footprint on the environment, their feathers and down undergo a proprietary washing process using recycled water and bio-degradable detergent. Feathers and down are sourced from leading providers in Europe and China, an important and discernable distinction over the life of a garment or product. In addition to the bluesign® certification, Allied Feather & Down is certified as asthma and allergy-free and has a sensitivity rating higher than “hypo-allergenic”. A leader in the industry, Allied Feather & Down plays an active role in setting global industry standards for down as a founding member of the International Alliance for the Pro Down Initiative and a certified member of the International Down and Feather Bureau.
“We clean, grade and process more than 5 million pounds of feathers and down per year,” said Steve Uretsky, president and CEO, Allied Feather & Down. “Our customers are global brands who are committed to the environment and to every element of the supply chain. We are aligned in our commitment to the environment,” he added. “Approval by bluesign technologies ag has tremendous value to our company. It’s a validation of our continuous commitment to the environment and it creates awareness among the types of companies that we want to do business with.”
The bluesign® bluefinder is an advanced search engine for textile manufacturers containing bluesign® approved raw materials and chemical components that meet the bluesign® standard. The advanced search engine is always up-to-date and provides textile manufacturers with the newest easy-to-use textile-relevant EHS information. The bluesign® bluefinder is the tool to help manufacturers manage their input streams regarding sustainability. “Our goal with the bluesign® certification is to enable committed companies in the textile industry to stay true to their goals of protecting people and the environment in a cost-effective way. By providing all of the information they need about products and input streams to them in advance,” said Stefan Schlosser from bluesign technologies ag. The independent bluesign® standard is a guarantee that, along the entire production chain, products only contain components and pass through processes that are harmless to people and the environment,” he added.
About Allied Feather:
Founded in 1987 Allied Feather & Down has earned the trust of the most demanding global brands by delivering unsurpassed warmth, quality, comfort and peace of mind to its end user and by leading the way in managing the global supply of down for its business partners. Leading industry brands have the ability to influence the market and pick their supplier and they choose Allied Feather. Their choice of Allied Feather & Down as their supplier of product says a great deal about how this family owned company does business. If a product says Allied, it will offer warmth, quality, durability, comfort and an allergen-free guarantee.
About bluesign technologies ag
bluesign technologies ag was founded in 2000. Since then, the bluesign® standard has been adopted by different worldwide leading textile manufacturers. Various significant key players of the chemical and machine industry rely on the bluesign® standard and endorse it as bluesign® supporters. Several well-known brands of the sporting goods and fashion industry benefit as bluesign® members of the extensive knowledge of bluesign technologies ag. In 2011, SGS has acquired a 80% stake in bluesign technologies ag.