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What is the Down Sweater Vest?
It's a down-insulated gilet designed for outdoor use and everyday activities, whether walking the dog, running errands at home or hiking with friends at the weekend. It's made with responsible materials in a Fair Trade Certified Factory™, too! What's not to love?
What is it made of?
The shell and lining of this gilet are made with bluesign® approved, 20-denier NetPlus® fabric, which comprises 100% postconsumer recycled nylon ripstop, and treated with a PFC-free DWR (durable water repellent). It's filled with 800FP, RDS and Control Union certified down to provide exceptional warmth.
Can't quite catch the lingo? Here's a quick breakdown:
NetPlus - NetPlus® is Bureo's signature material. It's made from postconsumer recycled fishing nets, meaning it helps reduce one of the most harmful forms of ocean plastic pollution while still empowering fishing communities worldwide. The material is fully traceable and created in partnership with fishermen and women to provide a more circular solution for end-of-life nets, reducing the amount of plastic entering the ocean and making the most of what is otherwise an incredibly precious resource and usable material.
800 Fill Power - Fill power measures the warmth and efficiency of the down, alongside its ability to loft/fluff up. A rating of 800 fill power means that 1oz of this down fills 800 cubic inches of space when fully lofted.
R.D.S - The Responsible Down Standard ensures that the down is sourced from happy birds who haven't been plucked and have been well cared for.
PFC-free - PFC-free means perfluorinated chemical free. Perfluorinated chemicals (PFCs), used to add water repellent to textiles, aren't able to break down, so once they reach nature via water waste from factories, they stay out there and contaminate living organisms, working their way up the food chain. PFC's are suspected carcinogens and have been known to affect mammal reproduction and hormone production. Therefore, many leading brands in the outdoor industry are now prioritising cutting out the use of these chemicals entirely to contribute to a greener manufacturing process.
DWR (durable water repellent) - allows light rain and snow to bead off the fabric instead of allowing it to soak in, enhancing the product's breathability further whilst keeping some of the wet weather out! Although, please note that DWR doesn't make this product fully waterproof.
bluesign® approved - The fabric is also bluesign® approved, meaning it's manufactured in a way that is safe for the environment, workers and consumers. bluesign® certifications ensure that the materials used avoid harmful substances, use reduced air and water emissions, increase resource productivity, and the production line is more transparent and trustworthy.
What are its features?
The quilting and construction pattern is optimised for warmth and freedom of movement. The centre-front zipper makes for easy on-and-off whilst allowing you to quickly dump heat when needed. A zipper garage at the top of the fastening also helps prevent it from pinching the skin.
Two on-seam hand pockets with welted zippers make space for small essentials; they double up nicely as handwarmers when you've forgotten your gloves, too!
An internal zipped chest pocket provides extra storage for more valuable items. You can also stuff the gilet into this pocket to create a makeshift stuffsack. It also has a small carabiner clip for attaching it to a bag, pack or harness for on-the-go access.
Drop-in interior pockets provide additional storage for larger items such as a hat, gloves, snacks or even a small soft flask.
A comfy, nylon-bound, elasticated drawcord and matching armholes help to cinch in volume and keep the breeze out. You can also adjust the hem with a cord lock at the front for maximum protection.
Despite the use of durable, high-quality materials within this gilet, we all understand that accidents happen. Especially when venturing into the wilderness! Therefore, this gilet also comes with a repair patch, meaning you can fix it on-the-go in worst case scenarios instead of having to write it off altogether.
This product is also made in a Fair Trade Factory™, giving Patagonia more control of the operations in the factories they choose to work with. Patagonia proudly offers more Fair Trade styles than any other apparel brand in the current market. But how does it work? Patagonia pays a premium for every item made in one of these factories, and this money goes directly to the factory workers. A democratically elected committee of Fair Trade workers will decide how this extra money gets spent in each Fair Trade factory. The program also promotes worker health and safety, and social and environmental compliance, while encouraging healthier dialogue between workers and management.
Features:
- Made with NetPlus® recycled material
- 800FP RDS, Control Union certified down
- PFC-free DWR (durable water repellent) finish
- Pattern and quilting optimised for warmth and movement
- Centre front zipper with interior storm flap and zipper garage
- Two on-seam hand pockets
- Internal zipped chest pocket with carabiner clip
- Drop-in interior pockets
- Comfortable nylon-bound elastance armholes and hem
- Includes repair patch for on-the-go fix
- Made in a Fair Trade Factory™