When it comes to material rarity, Icelandic eiderdown is in a league of its own. Every year, industries worldwide produce billions of tonnes of steel, copper, and even gold. In stark contrast, only 4 tonnes of Icelandic eiderdown are collected annually, making it one of the rarest natural materials on Earth.

This extraordinary down, derived from eider ducks native to Iceland, stands out for its unique combination of properties: it is the lightest, warmest, and only naturally hydrophobic down in the world. These characteristics make it highly relevant for fashion designers, particularly those exploring high-performance outerwear, as well as product designers interested in advanced insulation materials. The company Vollebak is now offering extremely limited edition of jackets filled with eiderdown.

What Makes Eiderdown Special?
Eider ducks thrive in Iceland’s extreme Arctic conditions, relying on their ultra-soft under-feathers for insulation. Each spring, female ducks shed this down to line their nests and keep their eggs warm. Once the eggs hatch, Icelandic caretakers, known as eider farmers, collect the down by hand. This labour-intensive process ensures that the material is harvested sustainably and without harm to the ducks or their environment.

Harvesting eiderdown is no small feat. It takes 65 hours of manual labour and the nests of 66 ducks to produce just 1 kilogram of down. The process involves meticulous hand-picking from remote nesting grounds, including mossy shorelines, Arctic tundra, and even stunted trees known as krummholz.

A Rigorous Cleaning Process
After collection, the down undergoes an innovative cleaning process to retain its natural properties. This includes drying in “down houses” heated by free-flowing volcanic water, baking, and hand-cleaning. The result is a material that not only remains warm and weightless but also repels water entirely—a feature demonstrated in viral videos showing eiderdown submerged in water, only to emerge completely dry.

Applications in Design and Sustainability
Icelandic eiderdown offers a glimpse into nature-inspired material innovation, making it a valuable resource for designers focused on sustainability and performance. For fashion designers, the material’s unparalleled insulation and lightness make it ideal for extreme-weather garments. Its hydrophobic qualities also open doors for use in high-performance outdoor gear.

From a sustainability perspective, eiderdown represents a biobased and circular material. Harvesting it relies on natural molting cycles and traditional farming practices, ensuring no harm to the environment or the animals. Furthermore, its natural durability aligns with long-term use, reducing the need for frequent replacements.

Looking to the Future
Despite its rarity, eiderdown continues to captivate designers and researchers worldwide. Its exclusivity means that only a limited number of products can be made each year, creating opportunities for high-value, bespoke applications. As industries push toward sustainable design solutions, materials like Icelandic eiderdown serve as benchmarks for combining luxury, performance, and responsibility.

Source: Vollebak
Photos: Vollebak