I understand. I'll reiterate that I think you did well here: this looks like a really good quality parka. Keep it and wear it!Thank you! That's disappointing. I intend to use it while vacationing in Alaska but the novelty of being the same type of coat I used in Canada was most of the appeal.
I believe UniQlo is a European brand.
When I was a kid, down was a luxury item. Goose down was not farm raised. Eddie Bauer had a down filled leather jacket which was literally a lifetime product if you kept leather conditioned. In today's market, down is suddenly very low priced. I am guessing that there is an unending supply of duck down and feathers from China.It's interesting, at least to me, how popular down is right now.
Unknowingly, it softened me up to the idea of military clothing not having to be actual surplus to be good.
Like I said above, I have zero interest in owning a down garment of any use or style, but I do often look at care tags on jackets I see in the wild or if a friend's is laying around. I'm always curious to see that for some reason. 100% of them are coming from China, but also of note, all the ones I see purchased (not in stores) are coming from huge department stores, Sam's Club (which sells an Eddie Bauer line), etc. They also are a high percentage of duck down "and other feathers", whatever that means. Raking the chicken coops too?In today's market, down is suddenly very low priced. I am guessing that there is an unending supply of duck down and feathers from China.
all the ones I see purchased (not in stores) are coming from huge department stores, Sam's Club
at less than $50 in most cases, you don't even have to dry clean the things. Just go buy another one when they get dirty. $20 to dry clean or a new jacket?
100 years ago, it was wool, down, or other ruffed up fibers. Then with the advent of plastics, you end up with crude versions of poly fill. But since the 80s, insulation research has exploded. In the late 80s, buying a sleeping bag was overwhelming. 3M alone had several new insulation technologies
Stuff gets better and although sometimes wool and fur and whatnot is still warmer it's also much more difficult to clean and far more expensive to make (ask any tailor, good wool ain't cheap anymore). I posted photos in this thread of N3B parkas being worn at the Antarctic scientific station, which the USAF supports with flights. But those have been set aside recently in favour of more modern parkas, in particular the Canada Goose Expedition parkas which the following news item and photos from the USAF official website make clear.Right you are. In the case of the N-3B, it was a step away from the leather & wool, and a step towards technology with the nylon blend & polyfill. Even the real fur was replaced by a synthetic. Was that purely based on cost? Or was there a consideration that the synthetic fake fur was just as good, if not better? Modern synthetics such as Polartec made from recycled water bottles are good, and only going to be better.As a kid, my dad was adamant that natural material such as leather, wool, cotton, down, silk - was the best. But we are also talking about the age of pleather, and polyester leisure suits.
Take a look at the modern military. US has the ECWCS with multiple layers. Not for style, but for function, the final outer layer is incredible. Those puffy pants are extremely warm.
It's interesting, at least to me, how popular down is right now. While it continues to be the paradigm of warmth, and what every textile company tries to beat in warmth-to-weight ratio, it's such a pain to maintain, and once it gets wet, it's useless. I suppose when you're talking about jackets that mostly need to be dry cleaned to maintain anyway, then whether it is a synthetic insulation or down is relatively unimportant. Still, if your use possibly involves water, or even extended use body moisture evaporation (how many of us are trekking Antarctica?), it's not a good material. Living and using in an urban environment, I would think washing would be an important factor, but who am I? I still can't fathom denim use without washing. Maybe a whole generation is being taught to be accustomed to sticking their clothes in a freezer instead of the washer. Why not a down jacket next to your pair of jeans next to the ice trays. Gross.
I believe UniQlo is a European brand. I only know it because Roger Federer dropped Nike sponsorship to be courted by UniQlo. I assume it must be on the higher scale. If Ralph Lauren can make nice military-inspired garments, I can see others doing a nice job as well. I'd wear one if it was good quality and smartly designed. I was given a "fashion" M-65 pre-internet age and before many designers were paying any attention to military garments, and it is a damn nice jacket. Unknowingly, it softened me up to the idea of military clothing not having to be actual surplus to be good.
puffer jacket worn here in equatorial tropics for style by young women,
But I also am not an outdoorsman who soils his jeans with sweat, mud, grass, and traces of animal manure.
It looks like a dead copy of the Alpha parkas, or maybe even a re-badged Alpha.Has anybody seen Valley Apparel?
That's the thing: I haven't seen anyone who has, and I haven't even seen any for sale. It's weird. The company has had nylon jackets on their website for several years, actually, but where are they in the real world? I'd have thought I'd see a few used ones filter through on e-bay, but no.I was wondering if anyone has physically seen, touched, and worn a Valley jacket.
Amazonwhere are they in the real world?