Down filled garments are favourite clothes in cold winter days because of their great ability to keep warmth and their lightness. Consumers are reminded however that, while taking budget and personal needs into account in purchase decision, they should also be aware of the proper ways to wash and maintain down filled jackets.
The majority of the down used in garments comprises both down and feathers of waterfowls. In terms of quality, the down of grown-up white geese is the best, followed by the down of ducks, and then other birds. Down and feathers used in garments have to go through numerous processes, and down filled garments have different levels of fluffiness and down content, hence the difference in price.
The Consumer Council received 225 complaint cases regarding down garments in the past 3 years, most of which (117 cases, 52%) were about cleaning services of laundry shops. Complaints received last year marked a sharp rise to more than a hundred cases, in which, 75% concerned with laundry services.
The latest issue of CHOICE magazine highlights some typical complaint cases on the down filled garments:
A complainant purchased a black colour ladies' down filled jacket in late December 2010 at HK$3,550. A month later, she found some down feathers kept coming out from the jacket, she therefore lodged a complaint to the shop, and she got a replacement of the same jacket. However, the replacement gave her the same problem. When she went to the shop to complain again in March 2011, the salesperson suggested her to choose another jacket of different model as a replacement. However, the complainant could not find a suitable one at that time. In June, she was notified by the shop that the replacement offer would expire by August. Discontented with the shop's practice, she came to the Council for assistance. After the reconciliation work by the Council, the shop agreed to extend the time for replacement offer.
Another complaint case involved laundry services. A complainant took her black colour down filled jacket to a laundry shop for dry cleaning and found the colour of the jacket turned grey after cleaning. She requested a compensation for the cost of her jacket, which was HK$2,900. The shop suggested to settle the dispute for HK$450 in cash plus an offer of laundry voucher worth HK$1,000. But the proposed solution was refused by the complainant. Later when the complainant re-approached the shop to resolve the dispute, the shop made no response to her. The Council suggested her to pursue the claim in the Small Claims Tribunal.
Consumers are reminded to pay attention to the quality of the down filled garment when purchasing the product, and to carry out proper maintenance after the purchase. When sending their garment for washing by laundry shop, they should choose one with good reputation and high level of responsibility.
The Council provides the following advice to consumers who intend to purchase a down filled garment which they find comfortable to wear and which suit their needs:
- Check if the label contains adequate details, including: down and feathers ratio, fill weight, instructions for washing and drying and so forth.
- Touch the garment - if you can easily feel the shafts of the feathers in the down filling, it means there are relatively more feathers than down in the garment; and hence its warmth keeping ability is correspondingly low.
- Gently squeeze a corner of the jacket and then let go, and see how quick it could return to its original shape, and its fluffiness. The quicker it returns to its original shape, the higher the down content is, and hence better quality.
- Pay attention to the quality of the stitches sewn on the clothes and check if the sewing is done well.
For good maintenance of down filled garments, consumers are advised to take heed of the following:
- Avoid frequent washing of the down filled garment. When wash, do it according to the maintenance instructions listed on the label provided by the manufacturer. Consumers are advised to avoid purchasing those items which do not come with clear labels about its down content and instructions for maintenance.
- For down filled garments which are labelled as washable, use appropriate cleaning agents, and follow washing procedures in the instructions. Do not use fabric softener after cleaning.
- Washable garments should be dried thoroughly with frequent batting after washing, in order to avoid the development of moulds which will produce bad odour.
- Store the down filled garment in an air permeable cotton bag after washing and thorough drying. Avoid using plastic bags as it will produce a bad smell after the garment is stored in it for some time.
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