PRIMALOFT, a global leader in advanced material technology, has seen a wave of brand adoptions of its Insulation ThermoPlume® this winter season.
THERMOPLUME is made up of feather-like plumes of synthetic fibres specially designed to mimic the lightweight warmth, loft, softness and compressibility of natural goose down. This enables designers to create garments for consumers seeking a vegan-friendly alternative that delivers the style and loft of down with the high-performance characteristics of PrimaLoft synthetic insulation.
Its construction allows for it to be blown through traditional down-blowing manufacturing equipment, simplifying the manufacturing process for brands, and allowing product designers the freedom to create innovative garments.
“ThermoPlume is the ethical response for brands looking to achieve the sought-after lofted look in garments, without having to make many changes to internal manufacturing processes already in place.”, said Tara Maurer-Mackay, SVP of Product at PrimaLoft. “It helps to simplify the supply chain, combat the volatility of down prices and provides consumers with peace of mind when it comes to the ethical sourcing of materials.”
The freedom in the design process has made ThermoPlume® a popular vegan-friendly alternative for outdoor and lifestyle apparel brands. Today, the series includes three different products:
- PrimaLoft Black Insulation ThermoPlume® – 100% post-consumer recycled content
- PrimaLoft Silver Insulation ThermoPlume® with Cross Core™ technology – fuses its best-in-class insulation fibres with aerogel technology to deliver next-level lightweight warmth.
- PrimaLoft Black Insulation ThermoPlume® Bio™ – uses 100% recycled content and enables synthetic insulation fibres to return to materials found in nature.
In its approach to elevate both sustainability and performance through innovation, PrimaLoft was able to convert both Black-level PrimaLoft ThermoPlume insulations to 100% recycled material while maintaining the same level of warmth and performance. In addition to repurposing existing polyester, using recycled material results in drastic carbon savings compared to virgin polyester.
With more than 70 brand adoptions, ThermoPlume is one of the best-selling products in the portfolio. For Fall/Winter 2022-2023, key brands include Nike, ALO Yoga, FP Movement, Helly Hansen, Montane, Vuori, Ecoalf.
For more than 25 years, MONTANE has been providing innovative, lightweight and breathable clothing and equipment for endurance sports and activities in some of the world’s toughest, most extreme environments.
In a statement from Montane, Marc Davies (Product Line Manager) and Liam Steinbeck (Materials Manager) observed, “We first launched jackets using PrimaLoft ThermoPlume back in 2017, and they have grown into a highly successful product line. For Fall/Winter 2023 we re-introduced our Icarus line, a high-performance jacket made with sustainability in mind.
“Warmer than the previous model, the unique insulation is a combination of both batted PrimaLoft Insulation and ThermoPlume loose fill, made to look and feel like a down jacket. We have reduced the environmental impact by using recycled materials in the outer fabric, insulation, and lining to align with Montane’s sustainability goals.”
