Finder Green Fave: Icebreaker puffer jackets
If you're looking to warm up without warming the planet, these sustainable, cruelty-free jackets are the way to go.
Sustainability may be the hot topic of the moment, but for New Zealand fashion brand Icebreaker, it's much more than just a trend. For over 20 years, the label has built itself around the idea that there's a better way to create clothing and that nature holds all the answers.
Following a chance meeting with a merino sheep farmer in 1994, founder Jeremy Moon created a merino-based outdoor apparel line that blossomed into the Icebreaker brand that we know today. At a time when synthetics reigned supreme, Moon fought to educate consumers and move them away from unsustainable petrochemicals to more sustainable wear.
Now available in over 40 countries, Icebreaker continues to be ahead of the curve when it comes to natural performance apparel. While the entire Icebreaker line is impressive, both fashion-wise and from an ethical standpoint, the most impressive feat for the brand has to be its range of cosy puffer jackets.
Puffer jackets have raised a lot of questions around ethics in recent years, with PETA reporting that duck and goose feathers (from which puffer jackets are often made) are frequently plucked from the birds while they're still alive.
Icebreaker's use of merino wool, on the other hand, makes its jackets some of the only ones on the market that you can be assured are entirely cruelty-free.
In fact, Icebreaker contracts directly from wool-growers that share its commitment to respect both animals and the environment, and was also the first company to ever ban the mulesing of sheep.
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As an added bonus, the use of merino wool in place of feathers actually serves to make the puffy jackets much more stylish. Rather than the overly stuffed nature that we've come to associate with puffer jackets, Icebreaker's designs are much slimmer.
The women's designs, in particular, are actually quite form-fitting, with some of the styles even tapered slightly at the waist. This makes them both easier to style and more convenient to pack into a suitcase.
Despite being much thinner than ordinary puffer jackets though, the Icebreaker jackets are still heavily insulated. Merino wool is naturally made to withstand freezing climates, which means that the jackets will keep you toasty warm through all your winter adventures.
As an added bonus, merino wool is also much more breathable than synthetic fabrics, so you can wear them for longer as they don't hold odour in the same way.
What makes Icebreaker green?
As well as being a cruelty-free brand, Icebreaker also cements itself as a leader in sustainability. The high quality merino wool that it uses for its products is ethically sourced and turned into fabric through a system that minimises both water usage and energy.
Merino wool is also naturally renewable, biodegradable and recyclable, making all of Icebreaker's products incredibly eco-friendly.
You can shop a range of Icebreaker puffer jackets, knitwear, activewear and more both in-store and online at Icebreaker. The brand is also set to drop more jackets and knitwear as part of its autumn/winter collection which will arrive in stores in May.
Finder Green Fave is a regular column that highlights our favourite sustainable, eco-friendly, ethical and cruelty-free products. If there's a product that you love and think we should look into, leave a comment below or use our customer service chat.
Looking for more information about sustainable products and companies? Check out the Finder Green homepage.
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