THE JOURNEY

Nesting Gold

Eiderdown is the soft under-feather of the eider duck, evolved to shield it from the biting cold of the Arctic. As nature has it, female eiders shed this down during breeding, using it for their nests. This is where eiderdown farmers step in, ethically collecting the precious down without harming the birds or their nests.

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Collection Odyssey

Imagine navigating through 240 islands in Breidafjordur, searching for nests on 150 of them. Each nest yields only about 15 grams of down. Farmers traverse challenging terrains, scouring between rocks, high grass, and dense flora, often missing some nests despite their best efforts.

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Purification Process

Post-harvesting, the real work begins. The raw eiderdown contains foreign matter like sticks, seaweed, and larger feathers, accounting for almost 80% of its weight. It is baked, passed through specialized machines, and meticulously cleaned by hand. An expert spends almost 4-5 hours refining just a kilo!

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Unmatched Quality

The final product is denser, stronger, and more insulating than regular duck or goose down. Unique barbs in eiderdown plumes trap air, making it exceptionally wind-resistant. Since 1970, laws dictate that all eiderdown sold must be certified. Every product undergoes rigorous inspection, ensuring unmatched quality. Iceland takes pride in producing about 80% of the world's eiderdown.