A wave of cold air has swept across most of the country, bringing an "overnight winter" that has prompted many to bundle up in down jackets. In China, down jackets are essential cold-weather gear, valued as much for their warmth as for their style. With the "Double 11" shopping festival just coming, let us walk you through selecting and maintaining your down jacket.
I. Selecting Your Down Jacket
When buying a down jacket, always begin by checking the label, especially for imported products. Look closely for the Chinese label and applicable national standard, which indicate whether the jacket meets China’s production requirements for down garments.
The label on a down jacket contains three key parameters, namely down cluster content, filling type, and fill weight.
1. Down Cluster Content
Down, or down cluster is the complete, fluffy feathers responsible for insulation. Common down cluster content percentages found in jackets are 90%, 80%, and 50%. As a general rule, the higher the down cluster content, the greater the loft; and thus, the better the warmth retention.
A complete "down cluster". Note: The national standard Down Garments (GB/T 14272-2021) has replaced the term "down content" with "down cluster content".
In contrast, individual filaments that detach from these clusters, known as down fibers, lack resilience and loft, offering inferior warmth. Their slender, thread-like shape also makes them prone to working their way through the fabric, a common issue referred to as "down leakage".
Individual down fiber.
2. Filling Type
The most common fillings in down jackets are duck down and goose down. When compared with duck down,goose down is typically larger and fluffier, which provides greater warmth for the same weight. However, because geese have a longer growth cycle than ducks, jackets filled with goose down are usually more expensive.
Duck down is further categorized by color into white and grey. There is no difference in thermal performance between the two, and the distinction in color is purely due to the breed of the duck.
White duck down and grey duck down.
3. Fill Weight
Fill weight varies by jacket style and size. When making a selection, it's important to consider the typical winter temperatures in your region, as the thickest jacket may not be necessary for your climate.
For temperatures above 0°C, a fill weight of up to 100g is suitable; for above -5°C, around 140g; for above -10°C, around 180g; and for above -20°C, around 200g.
II. Washing and Storing Your Down Jacket
The warmth of a down jacket comes from the down clusters inside. The key to washing and storage is to protect these inner clusters from damage.
1. Do Not Dry Clean Down Jackets
As a general rule, down jackets are more suitable for hand washing. The common dry-cleaning solvent tetrachloroethylene can damage the protein structure of the down, causing it to become stiff and impair its insulation. Additionally, tetrachloroethylene has a strong degreasing effect, which can cause the down to mat, clump, harden, and lose its loft.
2. Hand Wash with Gentle Agitation
For hand washing, use gentle agitation. Once rinsed, avoid wringing the jacket. Gently press out the moisture and let it air dry. During drying, remember to periodically pat and fluff the jacket to help separate the down clusters and ensure it dries thoroughly.
3. Machine Wash on a Gentle Cycle
Always use the gentle or delicate cycle for machine washing a down jacket.In addition to the wash cycle, it is equally important to use a neutral pH detergent or a down-specific cleanerto prevent damage to the down from harsh detergents.
4. Store by Hanging
To prevent the down clusters from bending or breaking, down jackets should be stored hanging whenever possible. Never compress them aggressively in an attempt to save space, as this can cause permanent damage to the down's loft.
III. Customs Supervision
Customs supervises the import and export of down jackets through a dual approach: inspection of imported goods and risk monitoring of exported goods. This model is strictly implemented to ensure that all down jackets in cross-border trade comply with applicable product quality and safety requirements.In tandem with nationwide campaigns against counterfeit and shoddy commodities, Customs prioritizes the detection of violations such as adulteration, fraud, and the misrepresentation of substandard goods as certified products. These efforts are crucial to safeguarding the legitimate rights and interests of consumers in China.
Disclaimer：The above content is translated from Chinese version of Nanning Customs. The Nanning Customs version shall prevail.
