ALLIED Feather + Down Launches ExpeDRY, First Chemical- Free, Fast-Drying Down Insulation

In keeping with its commitment to performance and sustainability, ALLIED Feather + Down -- the world’s leading supplier of ethically sourced down -- is proud to introduce ExpeDRY quick drying down, featuring FUZE technology.

Available to all ALLIED partner brands, ExpeDRY is a chemical-free solution that keeps the performance that down is renowned for, and makes caring for down products easier, while reducing energy consumption and broadening down’s performance range. ExpeDRY helps reduce dry times while minimizing performance issues in wet weather by using non-ionic, permanently bonded gold nanoparticles to the down cluster. FUZE is a permanent, chemical-free technology that can be applied to any surface or textile to prevent and protect against harmful pathogens, mold and infectious diseases. Dedicated to sustainability, only a small amount of FUZE is applied during a patented embedding process at either the factory or the consumer level, causing no harmful effects to you or the environment. Learn more at www.fuzebiotech.com

These particles work to increase the evaporation rate of water at a molecular level, without the need for heat. This technology differs from current water resistant treatments for down. The common DWR treatments act as a hydrophobic agent which allows water to bead, keeping the down clusters drier for longer. However, once saturated, DWR treatments have no ability to accelerate drying.In real world situations, the increased evaporation rate created by ExpeDRY could actually be of greater benefit than many DWR treatments. And once saturated through a thorough cleaning, ExpeDRY-treated garments will dry almost twice as fast.

ExpeDRY has been tested to dry 40 to 60 percent faster than untreated down, making it significantly easier and faster to fully dry a jacket in traditional and condenser dryers. It also helps down products air dry faster between uses in wet environments.

“This project has been at the top of our priorities and in development for years,” said Daniel Uretsky, President of Los Angeles-based Allied Feather + Down. “Not because it might help someone summit an 8000-meter peak faster, but because it will make down more accessible to more people.” “We almost thought the project impossible until our partnership with Fuze,”continued Uretsky. “Using their incredibly knowledgeable and unique approach to innovation and dedication to sustainability, we are finally able to realize our quick-drying product. This is a potential game changer for the European market that relies on condenser dryers, which have always made down difficult to care for and dry properly.” A

Andrew Peterson, Chief Technology Officer of FUZE Biotech, said, “Working with ALLIED on long-term sustainability goals and other exciting product developments allowed us to come across an interesting new area of study where we find that gold nanoparticles significantly increase the evaporation rate of water. This technology has exciting implications that extend far beyond the apparel industry.”

In long-term exposure in wet climates, ALLIED has found that the loss of warmth is primarily due to extreme levels of humidity as opposed to direct contact with water. The gold nanoparticle technology employed by ExpeDRY creates an electro-static barrier that increases hydrophobicity as well as interacting with water’s hydrogen bonds. This combination keeps the humidity from forming water droplets and helps to break them up, facilitating faster drying when water is present. In virtually every real-world scenario ALLIED has tested, ExpeDRY performs as well or better than the leading hydrophobic water resistant down currently available. Made with gold from recycled sources, ExpeDRY is chemical free and uses approximately 70% fewer resources than water resistant down.

“What started as a project to help make down easier to care for has turned into what we consider is quite possibly the best insulation on and for the planet,” added Uretsky. 

ExpeDRY can be found in F22 products from Artilect and Jack Wolfskin with many more brands for fall 23 and beyond. Examples include the Divide Fusion Stretch Hoodie which exemplifies ARTILECT’s approach to technical apparel design: integrating entirely new materials for performance and sustainability, and offering the next level of moisture management and thermoregulation as a standalone product and optimized when used together with other pieces of ARTILECT's A/SYS technical apparel system. 

With the Divide Fusion Stretch, ARTILECT is the first brand in the world to integrate the revolutionary ALLIED Feather + Down ExpeDRY Ultra Dry Down featuring FUZE technology: gold nanoparticles applied to down clusters that create an active-drying chemical free alternative to hydrophobic-treated down. 

But the technology doesn't stop there: The Divide also features moisture-resistant Lavalan Sport European Wool, breathable Toray 20-denier, 4-way stretch woven nylon fabric treated with Green Theme Technology’s EMPEL PFAS- and water-free DWR, and the center front zip features a next-level YKK® Touchlink™ zipper powered by the Lifekey™ software platform, an advanced technology that enhances product functionality and adds various opt-in safety features.

An extremely high-performance insulayer with no detail left out, the Divide Fusion Stretch Hoodie is a critical element of the ARTILECT Apparel System, A/SYS. 

Available for women (XS-XL) and men (XS - XXL) at https://artilect.studio and in specialty retail locations in the US, Canada and Europe.

Divide Fusion Stretch Hoodie $380 USD  /  $460 CAD 

Features:

• Main body made from a highly breathable Toray 20-denier, 4-way stretch woven nylon fabric with a PFC-free durable water repellent (DWR) finish
• Side panels, hood, back hem and sleeves are made from 40-denier 4-way stretch plain weave nylon with a GTT EMPEL DWR finish
• Main body and sleeves have 700-fill-power ALLIED RDS ExpeDRY Ultra Dry down with FUZE technology, an active-drying, chemical-free alternative to hydrophobic-treated down
• Moisture-resistant 60 g Lavalan Sport European wool in the side panels, underarms and hood offers long-lasting freshness, moisture management, mobility and thermoregulation
• 2 YKK zippered hand pockets with 100% recycled lining; 1 zippered chest pocket; 2 recycled taffeta inner dump pockets
• YKK Touchlink™ zipper is powered by the Lifekey™ software platform and pairs with your smartphone for enhanced product functionality
• Adjustable hem and hood
• Signature Artilect trim and details 

Founded in Vernon, Calif. in 1987, ALLIED has been responsibly sourcing and sustainably processing down while simultaneously driving innovation within the insulation market for over 30 years. The family owned and operated business has earned the reputation as the largest, most reliable and most responsible supplier of raw material in the industry. Through the creation of programs such as the Responsible Down Standard (RDS) and Track My Down, ALLIED is committed to safeguarding the welfare of animals while protecting the environment. ALLIED remains a family owned company with facilities worldwide and is proud to produce the highest quality down technologies demanded by the most discerning brands in the outdoor, hospitality and fashion marketplaces.