PrimaLoft introduces 100% recycled edition of down alternative

PrimaLoft, the leader in advanced material technology, has released a new version of its best-selling ThermoPlume down alternative that is made entirely of post-consumer recycled materials.

More than 70 manufacturers have committed to using the loose-fill microfibre insulation in their product lines for the Autumn/Winter 21/22 season, four years since it was first introduced. This first blowable synthetic insulation has also earned a strong reputation in the outdoor apparel and fashion markets.

The president and CEO at PrimaLoft, Mike Joyce said that when they first launched ThermoPlume in 2017, they were responding to rising demand from designers, brands, and consumers for an ethical alternative to animal products, which is becoming an increasingly significant purchasing criterion. He adds that at the same time, they managed to produce the quality that PrimaLoft insulation goods are known for. A sensible next step was to reach the same degree of comfort and warmth in an entirely recycled version.

ThermoPlume is made up of small, silky fiber plumes that work together to create loose-fill insulation. It has the fluidity, hand-feel, and aesthetics of down, but with the tested water-repellent properties of PrimaLoft fibers to have a soft, compressible thermal output, even when wet.

SVP of Engineering at PrimaLoft, Vanessa Mason said that because of the way ThemoPume is made, it can be blown into conventional down-blowing machines, simplifying the production process for brands and allowing product designers to produce lightweight garments that blend the look and feel of down with the water-resistant durability of a synthetic. It also aids in the streamlining of the supply chain, the reduction of market fluctuations, and the assurance of responsible commodity procurement.

Around 40 labels used ThermoPlume in their collections even before the current 100 percent recycled edition. The number would soar to over 70 for the Autumn/Winter 21/22 season, with more than half now opting for the entirely recycled version.

The brands include Picture Organic Clothing, Joe Fresh, Lands’ End, La Sportiva, Polo Ralph Lauren, 4F, CMP, Millet, Montane, Salomon, Timberland, Ecoalf, Ellesse, Fred Perry, Nike, Peuterey, Rossignol, and Woolrich.