The ultimate in style when I was, say, eleven or twelve years old? A big, fat Helly Hansen down jacket. It had to be oversized, really plush, so that you could definitely imitate the Michelin Man look in it. The most important thing was that I felt really cool and had finally joined the grown-ups. What was inside my jacket back then? I didn't care at all. All I cared about was what was on the outside and, above all, on the label. And Helly Hansen was just the thing.
The 90s Coolkid jacket lost its charm at some point, but down as a warm insulating layer did not. Down is the lower plumage of waterfowl such as ducks and geese. It is very soft and protects the animals from cold and heat. Unlike other feathers, they have no quill and are therefore very light and insulating. Not only for the animals, but also for us, for example in jackets. And I've always loved these warming properties and have always had an item in my wardrobe that promised protection against the cold with this fine natural product. Even if it was just a sleeping bag.
What the pluck? - conventional down
Until 2014, when Patagonia presented the "What the pluck?" campaign at ISPO and its 100% traceable down products. Until then, and somehow I now wonder how naive I could be, I didn't give any thought to where the down in my jacket, sleeping bag etc. actually came from. "They'll do a good job", I thought to myself. However, it's clear that you can't always trust every manufacturer everywhere. Me too by now. And when I looked at this little comic from Patagonia for researching one of my first articles for the outdoor industry, it made me feel completely different. The Grim Reaper, who cheerfully shows the little goose where the down from her ski jacket comes from to the tune of (Don't fear) The Reaper by Blue Öyster Cult, also made it clear to me what I was supporting with my purchase.