What Are Down Alternatives?
Down comforters are highly sought after when it comes to bedding, but down alternatives are also popular choices for various reasons. Whereas down blankets are filled with layers of the fine, quill-less material underneath the feather layer of duck and geese, down alternatives include a wide array of natural materials (like cotton, wool or silk) as well as synthetic materials (like rayon or polyester). To determine whether down bedding or a down alternative is best for you, let’s look at some of the pros and cons of each.
Down Pros and Cons
Down bedding is very comfortable, as it’s a nice, lightweight material that is breathable but maintains warmth. This is due to the “fill power”, which refers to “how many cubic inches one ounce of down or synthetic material expands to. The higher the number, the better the insulation quality.” (Source) Down has a naturally high fill power, which means it requires less stuffing to trap warmth. However, down also has many cons, especially for allergy sufferers. Down is not naturally hypoallergenic, and, dust mites and other pests love to nest in town. Hypoallergenic down is highly processed and often combined with milkweed, a plant that is pest resistant. However, this still doesn’t deter down from breaking down into tiny pieces that can cause irritation. Down is also difficult to clean and often requires a duvet cover, whereas our mulberry silk bedding only needs to air out in the sunshine to be refreshed.
Down Alternative Pros and Cons
The pros and cons of down alternatives are best determined via individual materials, but there are some generic ones we can discuss — as well as look at why mulberry silk is objectively the best down alternative! As opposed to down, which has a naturally high fill power, many down alternatives require more stuffing and are thus, heavier bedding choices that are not breathable and hold in heat. However, this is not the case with mulberry silk! Mulberry silk bedding is very lightweight because the fibers are porous and pure, which allows the material to be very breathable while still being able to regulate body temperature. While down alternatives are, in general, also better for those who suffer from allergies and asthma related to down, mulberry silk requires no chemical processing and is naturally hypoallergenic and antibacterial. This is because it contains a protein called sericin, which not only makes the silk strong as steel but also is naturally resistant to the growth of fungi like mold and mildew, and even pests such as dust mites and bed bugs. To clean, you simply need to hang our mulberry silk bedding outside in the sunshine for a few hours; this whitens the cotton shell and rejuvenates the silk filling. You can also spot treat small areas on the shell or opt for dry cleaning with low heat if it becomes heavily soiled.
As you can see, our mulberry silk bedding is the superior down alternative that offers royal luxury without the cons of down bedding. What are you waiting for? Start shopping now!
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