
A magical
natural product
Down and feathers
Down is a natural product made from the warming protective feathers of water fowl. Thanks to its three-dimensional, elastic structure, down can trap a lot of air, which makes it an enormously powerful storer of heat. Visually, down resembles a fine snowflake, and it is just as light at 1–2 milligrams. About one million pieces of down are required for one kilogram of filling material. The larger the pieces of down, the higher their fill power, i.e. their effectiveness in terms of thermal insulation.
Unlike down, feathers have a two-dimensional, flat shape. The so-called vanes, which consist of soft barbules, branch off on both sides from the continuous, hollow quill in the middle. As their name implies, feathers are extremely resilient; even after a thousand fold compression, they always spring back to their original shape. This resilience is called fill power and ensures that feathers withstand high loads. For this reason, one, in principle, uses a higher feather percentage for pillows than for duvets.
Down and feather plumage give geese and ducks ideal protection against the cold. Many of the good properties of down and feathers that are important outdoors in nature can be transferred to their use in bedrooms at home. For example, they are able to absorb moisture and dissipate it into the ambient air like no other material. Their resilience makes them extremely durable – while ensuring the highest degree of softness and snugness. In addition, down and feathers are easy to clean and can be washed at up to 60°C. On top of that, ours are fundamentally suitable for allergy sufferers (NOMITE) and are ecologically tested (Standard 100 by OEKO-TEX).

Ticking
In addition to the fillings, the quality of bedding depends largely on the quality of its covers.
These need to be permeable to air in order to promote the transport of moisture and respiration while they must always be down- and feather-proof. Even the thinnest quills should never pierce through the appropriately woven and processed cotton shell.
In addition, all shells that we produce are guaranteed to be colourfast, washable, resistant to perspiration, friction and light, and tested for the best possible skin compatibility. All our duvet and cushion covers are made of 100% high-quality, long-staple cotton, and fine yet durable yarns.

Allergy sufferers
All bedding products we produce are suitable for house-dust allergy sufferers.
A house-dust allergy is triggered by inhalation of allergens found in secretions from dust mites. Studies from the University of Kiel and Frankfurt and the Wellington School of Medicine in New Zealand show that dust mites are virtually not found in down- and feather-filled bedding. Due to the heat during use and the rapid dissipation of moisture during ventilation, they are not an appropriate habitat for moisture-dependent dust mites.
Our down duvets and pillows also come with very densely woven covers, whose effectiveness as a barrier to mites is confirmed by the independent testing organisation Wessling. All in all, down- and feather-filled bedding – contrary to popular belief – is especially suitable for allergy sufferers and ensures pleasant, absolutely allergy-free sleeping conditions.
Care
The care of down- and feather-filled bedding is pleasantly uncomplicated.
The pillows and duvets should be shaken briefly every morning after use. Instead of covering them immediately witha bedspread, it is best to let them breathe and aerate them near the window in dry weather.
Down duvets and especially pillows can be easily washed in a household washing machine. It is important to use a cotton detergent, to refrain from using fabric softener, and to dry the bedding immediately after washing. If the filling still feels moist and lumpy after the first drying cycle, another one should be run.
Anyone who follows this advice will enjoy their bedding for a long time.

Laundry detergent
For the sake of long-term cosiness and cleanliness, we developed the detergent Dauni.
It is based on 100% sustainable surfactants from wheat, maize and potato starch. Dauni is phosphate-free, pH-neutral, ecologically harmless and does not require optical brighteners.

You can reach us easily by phone from Mon-Fri 8:00 am to 4:30 pm. We are happy to answer your questions.
- T +49 (0) 2505 9337-0
- F +49 (0) 2505 9337-77
- M info@otto-keller.de