A BATHING APEDown jackets are an essential part of the history of UNIQLO®. All of the down jackets for 2023 A/W use recycled down from Kawada Feather, a world-class feather manufacturer.

Kawada Feather has a factory in Meiwa-cho, Taki-gun, about 30 minutes by car from Matsusaka City, Mie Prefecture, famous for producing wagyu beef. This area is a treasure trove of "ultra-soft water" that originates from the Odaigahara Mountains, which boast one of the world's highest rainfalls. The water contains almost no calcium or magnesium minerals and has high permeability, so it penetrates every corner of the down (feathers), thoroughly removing dirt and dust.

Furthermore, Meiwa Town has a climate where dry winds blow down after rain, so humidity is low throughout the year, making it easy to remove dust that has adhered to the down. In addition, by using this water, which has a high reducing power, to restore the feathers' original functions, the town is able to produce safe, secure, and clean down that is free of house dust, in a unique environment with excellent water volume, water quality, and a favorable climate.

The recycled down used in this product has been attracting attention in recent years from a sustainable perspective. Kawada Feather began its down recycling business in 2004.
In 2012, with the desire to "circulate feathers, a natural by-product of edible waterfowl, and pass them on to the next generation," we launched the "Recycled Down Project" together with apparel manufacturers, bedding manufacturers, social welfare councils, and others, and began collecting unwanted down products at stores and collection points across the country.
Every day, 400 to 500 pieces of down comforters arrive, and each month, about 9000 pieces of down are removed by hand and sorted by quality. Only about half of the down can be used for down jackets.

A dust collector is used to remove dirt and dust that has built up on the down, and Kawada Feather's unique "sharpening wash" method cleans the down without damaging it.
The "cleanliness test" required for this is three times the industry standard. In other words, the down is washed until the water used for washing is three times clearer than normal, and the down is refined according to much stricter quality standards than those for new down.

By washing it properly, the down's original functions such as moisture retention and moisture absorption/release properties can be restored, making it possible to reuse it repeatedly.
Dirt is completely removed through the processes of dust removal, cleaning/restoration, drying, and cooling dust removal.

The washed down is put into a sorting machine to remove feathers and immature down. In the sorting machine, the down is completely opened and exposed to a large amount of air, so all dirt and dust is thoroughly removed, leaving it in its original "odorless and tasteless" state. By taking more time and effort than with new down, down of consistent quality is refined, free of dirt, dust, chemicals, and allergens that cause house dust.

Down has a fluffy and soft image, but it is actually durable and is said to be able to be used for over 100 years without any changes. It uses recycled down from Kawada Feather, which is known worldwide as a "proof of quality."BAPE®The down jacket collection isA BATHING APE®Official stores,BAPE.COMTo be released sequentially.