history of synthetic insulation

THE HISTORY OF SYNTHETIC INSULATION

I moved the u tube video to the opening page of Wiggy’s website.

I thought it would be informative for you to understand what fibers are now used in the outerwear that you see on the racks of jackets in clothing stores.

As I said in the video, when DUPONT, EASTMAN KODAK AND CELANESE were supplying the industry they had two qualities. The first quality sold for about $0.50 per pound and the seconds $0.20 per pound. Buy the first quality you received advertising monies and hangtags, and guaranteed quality. The cheaper product you had no guarantee the weights would be equal.

Today synthetic jackets coming from Asia are insulated with whatever is available. There are no fiber producers who offer a first quality product that they stand behind.

When DUPONT started making polyester fiber as I recall they got all of their information from ICI Imperial Chemical Company from London. ICI determined the denier of the fiber for use in yarns, fiberfill and many other products. My interest was fiberfill and they determined 5.5 or 6 deniers were best. All of the fiber used to make Lamilite is 5.5 denier. As anyone who owns a Wiggy’s Lamilite product, sleeping bag or jacket the resilience of the fiber is excellent, because it is stronger.

Every company that makes quilted jackets is using most likely waste fiber, because it is cheap, and it is mostly 2 and 3 denier fiber. Notice that all of the jackets on the racks are using very thin fibers so they are not lofty, no loft no insulation to trap you body heat to keep you warm.

The U.S. companies pressure the Asian manufacturers to meet certain prices, so they use cheap fiberfill. Primaloft has promoted for years their 2.5 or so denier fiber used to make their primaloft so the companies that make quilted just follow suit.

The only difference between the needle punch fiberfill that was used in the late 60’s and early 70’s that proved insufficient for warmth in jackets is that the needle punch did not need quilting to keep it together.

These 2 to 3 denier fibers has no resilience so the garment which has no loft loses whatever it does have quickly.

Remember you can always beef up one of these jackets with my liner jackets or vests.

General Chuck Yeager memorabilia

I have 6 lithographs, a gold-plated Leopold scope presented to him at the shot show.

I will have these items posted during the week on the web site for sale.