Mesic Speaks on Synthetic and Natural Down Winter Coats

Ajda Mesic ’19, MA, gave her input on synthetic down for Consumer Report's article "Choosing Between Synthetic Down and Natural Down for a Winter Coat."

The article goes into detail about the best down option for wet weather (traditionally, natural down has not fared well when wet) as well as the sustainability of both options (while vegan-friendly, synthetic down is often not biodegradable).

When it comes to warmth, natural down usually has the edge over synthetic, but Mesic gives insight on how to find a warm synthetic down coat: "When it comes to warmth, generally, synthetic insulations are rated in weight—for example, a 40 g rating means that a square meter of insulation weighs 40 grams. The heavier the weight, the warmer the insulation. Common synthetic insulation weights may range from 40 to 140 grams, but brands may use lighter weight insulation in the sleeves than the body of a coat to offset the final cost and weight of the garment.”

Mesic's knowledge on the matter comes from her experience working at Target as a full-time apparel designer, as well as her commitment to sustainability.

Learn More

• Mesic's Website
• "Choosing Between Synthetic Down and Natural Down for a Winter Coat"
  (consumerreports.org—February 10, 2022)