more insulation nonses

REMARKABLE ANNOUNCEMENT!!!

The following article is reprinted from the outdoor industry online publication “snews”.

As far as I know the Youngone Company based in Bangladesh and started out as a contract manufacturer of outerwear. As things in the industry changed Youngone had to change as well. They have gone from contract manufacturing to being a verticle operation and they offer their products under their own brand name. And now youngone is out there promoting insulations being used in their brand of jacket. What they are using has yet to work for any other company so what makes them think it will work for their garments? Nothing!!!

DuPont Biomaterials, Unifi and Youngone announced a new collection of dimensionally stable and sustainable insulation options for bedding and cold-weather garments. “These textile leaders are committed to innovation, sustainability and performance – and partnering with them will enable us to offer first-of-their-kind eco-conscious and high performing insulation products,” said Rick Fowler, CTO at Youngone. “We are thrilled to partner with such industry pioneers and launch a much-needed product in the industry.”

I have looked at the “new collection of dimensionally stable insulation options for cold weather garments”. (if they stick it in bedding big deal). The only way the insulations spoken of are can be made dimensionally stable is if they are quilted. Rest assured when this companies garments show up in retail stores such as rei and ll bean they will all be quilted. The quilt patterns will most likely be 1 ½ inch squares. When you see how small the quilt patterns are you will know immediately why the jackets WILL NOT KEEP YOPU WARM!

I do not know who rick fowler is but I do know he and jim frazier are members of the same exclusive no nothing organization that sells flat insulations or garments with flat insulations.

From what I have seen there are two models of insulation being used; 1- is the microballs that have been around for 30 or 40 years and the second is a low melt bonded fiberfill batting which has been around even longer. Both are products of chopped staple fiberfill.

If these guys knew anything about chopped staple polyester fiberfill they would know that these products have zero chance of working when the temperature drops below 40 degrees F.

Youngone, a leading global manufacturer of outdoor and athletic clothing, textiles, footwear and gear, is leveraging DuPont Sorona renewably sourced fibre and Unifi Repreve recycled content to debut three new insulation products that provide lightweight breathable warmth with unique softness and shape retention at Outdoor Retailer Summer Market next week.

What you have just read is bogus other than the fact that Youngone is introducing the insulations at the OR show used in their own brand of jackets.

“These textile leaders are committed to innovation, sustainability and performance – and partnering with them will enable us to offer first-of-their-kind eco-conscious and high performing insulation products,” said Rick Fowler, CTO at Youngone. “We are thrilled to partner with such industry pioneers and launch a much-needed product in the industry.”

Rick considering that these products do not work why do you think the industry needs these non-performing products?

The ECOLoft eco-elite insulation collection is the first post-consumer recycled product that also incorporates bio-based materials for innovative, breakthrough insulation, the company reports. It features three products with various benefits that all offer a reduced environmental footprint without compromising on insulation performance.

How is it possible to compromise a product that does not work in the first place?

EARLY ORDERING

Since I wrote asking people to consider ordering earlier than they would normally do has resulted in a number of orders for cold weather products, mostly footwear. I have also had a number of phone calls checking on the sizes that should be ordered for the parkas.

I know that the summer season is just getting started so thoughts about winter clothing are not necessarily at the fore front of ones thinking. However, I am grateful when someone does take the time to get with me so I can give them the best direction for sizing to consider.

CUSTOM PRODUCTS

For many years I have tried to accommodate customers with custom products. If what was being asked for could be made I had no problem doing it.

However, in recent times, basically the past two months I have had calls from people asking me to do something that I would not consider doing. As a courtesy to the customer I took the time to tell them not only that I would not do what they were asking for but also why. Unfortunately this rubbed them the wrong way.

It all dealt with the Freedom Shelter (FS) product. They wanted the Freedom Shelter to have the ability to convert to a hammock.

I explained that the FR was not a jerry created product. It was made and patented by a fellow named Ron Asher in 1985 I believe. I have been the designated manufacturer of the product since about 1996. I have remained true to the product since I became the manufacturer. I explained to these people that I was not knowledgeable enough about hammocks that would allow me to make the changes that were probably necessary to accomplish what was wanted.

Actually I have no idea where to start and how long it might take to get a product made. These people thought that it could be accomplished in a couple of hours.

I can offer that it would be an engineering activity that I am not capable of accomplishing. Ultimately I suggested that they buy some FR’s do it themselves. No one has ordered any.

For those of you who have an interest in custom work please understand that Wiggy’s has grown to the point that your cost to get a custom product from Wiggy’s may very well be more than it is worth.