World’s Most Expensive Feathers
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When it comes to staying warm, people in northern climates often choose goose down. But for folks who want something even warmer, there’s nothing better than eiderdown. The feathers from the Eider polar duck are the world’s warmest and the most expensive at about $5,000 for 800 grams on the international market.
The cost is so high because it is labor-intensive to harvest and process. Most of the world’s eiderdown comes from Iceland, where the ducks cannot be hunted. Instead, “farmers” protect the nesting birds on the country’s 150 islands and harvest the down that the birds shed and use to line their nests.
People go to great lengths to protect their wild flocks that are hidden in grass and rocks or that gather in large groups. They put up fences, flags and things to make noise to keep foxes and other predators away from the nests. Some take small portions of the down when eggs are in the nests, others wait until the chicks have hatched and left. Each nest has about 15 grams of down.
That’s just the beginning of the process. The down is baked at 248 degrees for 8 hrs. or more to dry the debris to make it easier to pick out. Then it’s washed, pressed and dried, and after it’s officially inspected and certified, the eiderdown is ready to be stuffed in pillows, duvets and comforters. Though lightweight, soft and fluffy, the down has small barbs that trap air and it is dense and strong for excellent insulation.
To learn more about eiderdown and the Eider polar duck, check out these YouTube videos: “Why Icelandic Eiderdown is so expensive” and “Icelandic Eiderdown – Quality of Nature”.
And, if you have lots of extra money on hand to invest in a high-quality, lifetime heirloom, www.eiderdowncomforters.com is one online store. Baby comforters start at $950 and a king size once will set you back $7,250.
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World’s Most Expensive Feathers FARM HOME Miscellaneous When it comes to staying warm people in northern climates often choose goose down But for folks who want something even warmer there’s nothing better than eiderdown The feathers from the Eider polar duck are the world’s warmest and the most expensive at about $5 000 for 800 grams on the international market The cost is so high because it is labor-intensive to harvest and process Most of the world’s eiderdown comes from Iceland where the ducks cannot be hunted Instead “farmers” protect the nesting birds on the country’s 150 islands and harvest the down that the birds shed and use to line their nests People go to great lengths to protect their wild flocks that are hidden in grass and rocks or that gather in large groups They put up fences flags and things to make noise to keep foxes and other predators away from the nests Some take small portions of the down when eggs are in the nests others wait until the chicks have hatched and left Each nest has about 15 grams of down That’s just the beginning of the process The down is baked at 248 degrees for 8 hrs or more to dry the debris to make it easier to pick out Then it’s washed pressed and dried and after it’s officially inspected and certified the eiderdown is ready to be stuffed in pillows duvets and comforters Though lightweight soft and fluffy the down has small barbs that trap air and it is dense and strong for excellent insulation To learn more about eiderdown and the Eider polar duck check out these YouTube videos: “Why Icelandic Eiderdown is so expensive” and “Icelandic Eiderdown – Quality of Nature” And if you have lots of extra money on hand to invest in a high-quality lifetime heirloom www eiderdowncomforters com is one online store Baby comforters start at $950 and a king size once will set you back $7 250
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