Jack Wolfskin is to replace its current, chemical-intensive hydrophobic down with Allied Feather + Down’s ExpeDRY throughout its Autumn/Winter 2024 down apparel collection.

Created in partnership with Fuze Technologies and relying on gold particles permanently bonded to the down feathers, ExpeDRY is PFAS-free and permanent to keep insulated jackets dry and warm in any outdoor environment.

“Traditional hydrophobic chemistry works great when in direct contact with water droplets, and is effectively used on jacket shell material to keep water out,” said Matthew Betcher, creative director with Allied. “However, for insulation, the needs are much different. In real world situations, the down in jackets more often comes into contact with humidity and water vapour, where traditional hydrophobic chemistry is far less efficient. ExpeDRY actively works to keep this vapour from condensing, allowing it to evaporate more easily, keeping the entire insulation chamber, and the user, dryer and warmer.

“As responsible manufacturers, we should all be looking to remove chemicals in our supply chain, whether they are currently considered “acceptable” or not. It wasn’t all that long ago that PFAS chemicals were considered safe, and as environmental metrics change, going chemical-free is the only way to stay ahead.”

According to new studies recently published by Scientific American, some 80% of human-made chemicals used in the European Union have been used without testing for more than a decade.”

This lack of testing has allowed harmful chemicals to be used for years before their true, negative impacts are understood.

Starting in Autumn 24, chemical-free ExpeDRY down will be found in several new Jack Wolfskin apparel lines, including the Discovery and Urban Pioneer ranges.

Now available through manufacturers based across China, ExpeDRY is affordable, widely available and ready to scale, giving brands an easy way to increase performance while reducing the environmental impacts associated with chemical usage.

www.alliedfeather.com