Canadian fashion brands undoubtedly know the importance of creating insulated outerwear styles to keep people warm throughout the many winter months of the year but many consumers are looking to avoid down in favor of vegan-friendly, cruelty-free alternatives.
Quartz Co. is a Canadian outerwear brand that introduced its 'Milkweed Collection' in collaboration with Altitude Sports and the Monark Cooperative. As its name suggests, the collection introduces durable parka jackets that are insulated with milkweed—best known as butterfly food—an entirely plant-based resource.
As well as being advantageous for its cruelty-free qualities, milkweed is also said to have a great thermal capacity, the ability to retain heat even when compressed and only a small amount is needed to insulate a winter jacket, which makes for lightweight designs.
Milkweed-Insulated Outerwear
Quartz Co.'s 'Milkweed Collection' Features Vegan-Friendly Jackets
Trend Themes
1. Vegan-friendly Outerwear - The rise in consumer demand for vegan-friendly, cruelty-free alternatives in the outerwear industry presents opportunities for brands to create innovative, milkweed-insulated jackets.
2. Sustainable Insulation - Utilizing plant-based resources like milkweed for insulation in outerwear not only provides a cruelty-free option but also opens up possibilities for sustainable and eco-friendly innovations in the fashion industry.
3. Lightweight Winter Jackets - The lightweight properties of milkweed insulation offer a disruptive opportunity for brands to create comfortable, stylish winter jackets that provide ample warmth without the bulk.
Industry Implications
1. Fashion - The fashion industry can embrace the trend of milkweed-insulated outerwear by incorporating sustainable and vegan-friendly materials into their designs while offering lightweight and warm options for consumers.
2. Outdoor Gear - The outdoor gear industry can tap into the milkweed insulation trend by developing innovative jackets and parkas that provide excellent thermal capacity and sustainability, catering to eco-conscious adventurers.
3. Textile Manufacturing - For textile manufacturers, the use of milkweed as insulation presents an opportunity to explore new production techniques and materials that align with the growing demand for cruelty-free and eco-friendly alternatives.