Unlike feathers, down is the light, fluffy clusters found on the underside of a goose, duck, or any waterfowl. These clusters are soft, fine strands that stem from a central point, but have no quill. Down clusters interlock and trap air, acting as an insulator to keep you warm. Down also has the magnificent ability to “breathe”, allowing air to flow around the down and through the fabric.

Fill power is a measure of efficiency representing the number of cubic-inches filled by an ounce of down.

Fill power is directly related to the down cluster’s size; large down clusters occupy more space than smaller down clusters, thus, they possess a higher fill power rating.

The advantages of larger clusters are also evident in their ability to trap more air in and around the down. Pockets of air act as insulators, so the greater the propensity towards air pockets, the more warming the down.

In short: the higher the fill power, the better the down, and the greater its thermal insulating properties. The goal of higher fill power is to provide warmth without weight.

Fill weight is the total number of ounces of down used. The higher the fill power, the lower the number of ounces required to achieve the same loft and insulating properties.  

Ticking is the shell fabric that encases the down piece. We expressly use down-proof fabric for our ticking and weave it to a tight construction to help prevent down from escaping from its shell casing.

Baffle boxes utilize interior fabric walls to connect the top and bottom fabric layers of ticking shells of a duvet. The walls form an interior chamber that help to prevent shifting and allows for maximal loft of the down. Greater loft creates more air pockets around the down, and these in turn increase its thermal properties.

Selecting a duvet or pillow is a matter of personal preference. Duvets are available in three weights - Light, Medium and Heavy. Pillows are available in three densities: Soft, Medium and Firm.

The way you like your bed to look and feel, and how you sleep will be the most important factors in determining which weights and densities to choose.

If you like a warm and fluffy bed, then you might select a heavy duvet. If you get hot at night, then you may want a lighter duvet. If you always sleep with the air conditioner on, then you may want a heavier one—it is all a matter of personal preference.

Typically, a light duvet is for warmer seasons and climates, a medium-weight is a good year-round choice, while a heavier duvet is great for colder seasons/climates.

Generally speaking, a soft pillow is for stomach sleeping, a medium pillow is back sleeping and a firm pillow is for side sleeping.

Sometimes, a duvet can shift or slip and may bunch up inside the duvet cover. The loops allow for the duvet to be tied to the ribbons or strips sewn into the corners of duvet covers. All of SFERRA’s duvet covers feature these interior strips. Once tied in place, it’s easy to fluff and refresh your duvet with a quick shake.

Your down product can be washed and dried at home using a washing machine. However, do not use a washing machine with an agitator.

Use regular detergent without bleach. Do not use fabric softener of any kind as it may coat the down clusters and weigh them down. You should use wool or tennis balls in the dryer to help unclump the down.

It is very important to ensure that the down is thoroughly dry before putting it back into use. When you think the comforter is dry, dry it some more, because if it is not dried thoroughly enough, the down may emit an odor.

It is very important to note that all of SFERRA’s down products are “hypoallergenic”. Many people believe that they are allergic to down, when in reality, they are allergic to feathers. Feathers are not washable, since by nature, they repel water.

All of our down is washed twice and rinsed four successive times with water, soap, deodorizers, and finally, a sterilizer. Washing is adjusted, if necessary, to ensure that all of our down exceeds “hypoallergenic” standards. To confirm that the material is as clean as it can be, each lot of washed material is tested for both oxygen and turbidity.

During the drying process, our down is dried in a machine at temperatures over 200°F. The intensity of the heat causes curling up of any feathers that may be there, opens up the down clusters, and helps to sterilize the down. 

De-dusting is performed as the last step in the cleaning process, drawing excess fiber and dust through a screen and leaving the down fully cleaned.