The low-doona on buying a new duvet
DEB TAPP
``Those feathers help to insulate the birds, that’s basically what your duvet inner is doing.’’
The actual feathers provide support and bulk in bedding products.
A mix of goose down and feather are a premium quality fill, being softer, lighter, containing finer quills and with superior insulating properties.
Duck down and feather fill is more commonly available and heavier than goose, with slightly lower insulating properties.
``The more expensive inners are made of down feathers, that’s either your goose down or your duck down, which is the warmest option for winter.’’
``But because down tends to be a lot warmer, it might be too hot for some people - a pure duck feather or duck feather mixed with down inner may suit those people better,’’ says Helen.
For those who don’t like being weighed down with bedding, goose feathers are the ``cre` me de la cre` me’’, she says, and have the advantage of being light and fluffy, weighing less than down.
Wool inners are another option. Wallace Cotton stocks a 250g version, which Helen says is ideal for New Zealand’s climate.
``Our warmest inner would be 85 percent goose down and 15 percent goose feather, then it’s duck down and duck feather which isn’t quite as warm but a little heavier.
``Then on a par with that would be wool inners, because they are about the same weight.’’
Some wool inners do weigh more.
``Some people prefer wool inners - some people are old school and remember the old days with lots of blankets on their beds that had that weight.
``A lot of people like to feel that weight, and that’s what you get with wool, they can be quite heavy.’’
Helen herself prefers the feel of feather on her bed.
``I’m lucky because I work here,
‘‘Ideally you’d have a duvet inner for every season, a lighter one or cooler one for summer and a warmer one for winter.’’
Helen Sykes, production manager for Wallace Cotton.
so I use my goose and feather down inner because it’s winter and I like to get into bed and feel nice and cosy.
``But living in Auckland I can’t use my goose inner in summer, it’s way too hot.
``So I’ll go for duck down and duck feather, which is a little bit heavier but not as warm.’’
Finding a good duvet inner isn’t just about what it’s filled with, it’s also about the quality of the feathers and down, and the quality of workmanship.
Helen advises people to take a good look at the construction of the duvet inner, checking that feathers don’t come out or feel spikey.
``If you think back to the duvets your grandmother had, all the feathers would poke out through the seams, and that can happen to new duvet inners if they’re not constructed correctly.
``It sounds like something fairly basic, but from a construction perspective, make sure it is good quality fabric, that all the seams are double stitched, the binding around the edges is attached correctly, and that it has a downproof lining so that the feathers don’t pop through.’’
Boxed construction is best, keeping the feathers and down spread throughout the duvet inner, rather than gathering in one corner.
Also check to ensure the feather and down fill is ethically sourced, meets international hygiene standards and comes with the correct certification, such as Downpass certification.
``All our fill is of high quality, and washed and processed before production, in fact our supplier has a 15-step washing process that meets all international standards,’’ says Helen.
``It helps to make our down and feather virtually allergen free and customers can be reassured that all our feathers and down filling is harvested ethically.’’
Helen has travelled to the factories Wallace Cotton use offshore and has seen first-hand just how the process works.
``I’ve been to our supplier and checked out the 15-step wash programme – after being washed up to 15 times all our feathers are lovely and clean and absolutely gorgeous.
``The factory too is lovely and clean, the staff all wear face masks, the floors are spotless. It’s important for us to see this first hand, to check their processes so they meet our expectations for quality.’’
As Helen says, the washing process is important.
``If the feathers haven’t been cleaned well, they will go yellow so it’s vital for us to get all the oils out.’’
While buying a duvet inner might seem straight forward, there is actually quite a bit to think about, says Helen.
``It’s worth saving up and spending a little more on a good quality duvet inner.
``It’s a big investment, it is a lifetime investment, so you want to get the best you can get because you’ll have it for a very long time.’’