The history of the down jacket: from its invention to its evolution as a fashion icon.
These days, down jackets have become an important part of our wardrobe. As soon as the temperature drops, the puffer jacket is a must-have even during mid-season. Highly appreciated for its functionality and fashionability, this garment has achieved a remarkable success.
This winter jacket has evolved from a simple utilitarian jacket designed to protect against the cold to an iconic piece for the city, appreciated by everyone, including fashion designers. The history of the down jacket is a mix of functionality, innovation and cultural transformation, illustrating the interconnection between fashion and utility. Here are the milestones that have taken the puffer jacket from a mountain garment to an urban essential.
1. From modest origins to a trendy piece
There are different versions of the birth of the first puffer jacket.
Officially, the origin of the down jacket can be traced back to Eddie Bauer, who was the first to apply for a patent for such a product. After nearly suffering from hypothermia on a fishing trip in freezing temperatures, the American aviator developed a technique for spreading down over the whole jacket, offering unrivalled insulation against the cold.
It turns out that other mountaineering enthusiasts before him may have been behind the famous winter jacket. During the British expedition to Everest in 1922, the Australian George Finch tested a prototype jacket filled with natural down, while the other members of the expedition wore tweed jackets.
George Finch was the only one not to suffer from the low temperatures. We should also mention the french Pierre Alain: his passion for the mountains led him to produce and market down jackets in his shop in Paris between 1931 and 1964. His jackets were mainly meant for mountaineering and winter sports.
In the 1940s, Klaus Obermeyer also had the idea of cutting up a duvet filled with natural down and transforming it into a quilted jacket, warmer than what was available at the time. These innovations laid the foundations for the modern down jacket as a garment resistant to the most hostile elements. From the 1950s onwards, the down jacket was first welcomed by the air force, fishermen and hunters, then gradually by winter sports athletes over the following years.
Thanks to its highly insulating properties and freedom of movement, this garment became a must-have for mountaineers and winter sports enthusiasts ready to tackle extreme conditions.
However, Pyrenex already had the idea for this type of jacket in the 1940s. Marie Crabos, wife of René, then head of the company, designed and produced the first "solidarity" down jackets with a humanitarian aim: to protect the Landes prisoners of war in the village of Saint-Sever from the cold. The puffer jackets were sent to Germany via the Red Cross.
During the 70s, Pyrenex really got into the swing of things, making its first technical winter jackets for mountains, filled with natural duck down and feathers, and in particular jackets and outfits to accompany one of the pioneers of modern mountaineering, Louis Audoubert, on his expeditions to the heart of the Himalayas. Afterward, Pyrenex down jackets stand out thanks to their incomparable insulation performance and lightness. In the following decade, the Authentic Jacket, an emblematic product of the brand that embodies all the DNA and know-how of Pyrenex, became an increasingly important part of the range.
2. The winter jacket as a cultural symbol
Adopted by major fashion brands and houses, as well as celebrities, the down jacket became truly popular in the urban environment during the 1980s, evolving rapidly and positively in the minds of the general public. Their contribution made it possible to combine functionality, fashion and comfort in a single piece. From a simple piece of technical mountain clothing, the winter jacket has become an essential fashion accessory that can now be worn in the city with everyday outfits. Often expensive and upmarket, the puffer jacket has rapidly become a status symbol among its admirers.
Brands have continued to reinvent the jacket with more technical materials and innovative solutions, offering oversized, long or short models for a variety of styles. The introduction of synthetic materials offering greater resistance to moisture and a lighter, more compact design for greater practicality has contributed to the rapid evolution of the down jacket.
At Pyrenex, down jackets have followed a similar evolution over the years, evolving from exclusive mountain wear to modern, trendy fashion statements. Particularly in the 2010s, Pyrenex collaborated with two luxury designers: Alexis Mabille and Alexandre Vauthier. The premium collection was assigned to the two fashion designers, the first in 2008 and the second in 2012, in order to create original, high-quality and seductive pieces.
In order to combine comfort and practicality, Pyrenex has since designed jackets that are not only compact, but also water-repellent or waterproof, ensuring protection even during bad weather. What's more, the use of breathable fabrics keeps the body comfortably dry. The natural down filling provides exceptional insulation and incomparable lightness. Puffer jackets have become a way for everyone to express themselves and affirm our style. Efforts to make down jackets more accessible in terms of price and style have broadened their audience, making them an integral part of our everyday wardrobes. At the same time, the evolution of the down jacket met some controversy on the path. The fashion industry has been faced with environmental protection issues, necessitating a move towards more sustainable, eco-friendly manufacturing.
3. Pyrenex: an eco-responsible approach
Pyrenex's expertise is based on a simple principle: upcycling. It involves recovering a natural organic material considered to be waste - feathers and down from the food industry in south-west France - and turning it into a noble 100% biodegradable filling, unlike synthetic fillings derived from petroleum, which are 10 times more damaging to the environment.
DISCOVER OUR ECOLOGICAL APPROACH
Pyrenex down is meticulously selected and comes exclusively from the best goose and duck farms in the south of France, Aquitaine. The feathers and down are tested to guarantee the best performance, then sorted, cleaned, dusted, dried and sterilised by us. Various labels testify to our commitment to more responsible production. Eco-design also aims to optimise the environmental impact of our products at different levels. Whether it's the development of an environmental analysis tool to optimise design choices, participation in a national working group on environmental labelling, innovation in processes or efforts to reduce our energy, water and packaging consumption, we are constantly committed to improving our ecological footprint.
The evolution of the down jacket reflects a transformation from a technical garment to a versatile fashion icon. From its modest origins, the down jacket has now become a fashion item that has taken its place in our wardrobes.
