MaxSoft2: is one of the best synthetic insulation on the market. Made in Canada by Matador under the Dupont's license. MasSoft2 is a high loft insulation who has a unique blend of high performance 4-hole siliconized and finer denier fibers, combine to create a superior quality high-loft and very warm insulation.

Moreover, this insulation is very durable because of the “Remay” (a sort of little silky membrane) that separates the insulation from the outside fabric, reducing drastically the wear and tear and eliminating the “air pocket” seen on some insulation with the time.

To be maintained in place our insulation is sewn at every 6” or less, so the insulation is not migrating in every way and is not bulking at the bottom of the jacket. Over almost all parkas the amount of insulation per yard linear is 9 oz. The Antartica is thicker at the upper body, there’s 10 oz per yard.

DOWN 750-90/10 & 650-80/20: like usual, Quartz Nature is always using the best inputs to produce their premium parka. With this philosophy we choose one of the best down on the market. Sourced from Canada our down has a power fill of 650 or 750 (depending of the model) cubic"/once. It means that one once of our down will fill 750cubic", much higher than what we normally see.

Moreover our down has an impressive Down/Feathers ratio, a minimum of 90% down/10% feathers. Inevitably a down parka has to carry a certain amount of feathers. Our contains a very low amount, a maximum of 10% or 20% per parka, so a mimimum of 80% or 90% of down clusters. Note that it's the down clusters that has the insulation features, and the feathers has no insulation properties.

To make it simple, the more we are using a high power fill and a high "down/feathers" ratio, the best is the insulation capacity. So with a premium down like ours, we can put less down in the parka because it's a more efficient down. We are getting a more comfortable parka, lighter/suppler, not bulky and stylish.

Before receiving it, our down pass trough a rigourous washing cycle that makes it pure white, exempt of grease, dirt, oil (reducing the bad odors when the parka get wet)...and is anti-microbial and hypo-allergenic ensuring it will stay cleaner and fresher. Our down go beyond the international down norms & regulations. It is also picked on MATURE birds. On mature birds the down clusters are much bigger, they can carry more air, are more efficient and more durable. Our down is certified by www.featherind.com a Member of Canadian Down and Feather Products Association.

At Quartz Nature we stand beside the quality of our garments and every input we use. We are definetely using one of the best down on the market. At the fith stage of the down cleaning Feather Industrie add a an "anti-microbial" product called Ultra-Fresh. This application of Ultra-Fresh enables Down and Feathers to resist the growth of destructive bacteria, moulds, mildew and fungi, but also provides odour protection. In other words, it has a "self-deodorizing" property which does not mask odours, but instead works on preventing the actual causes of odours. Ultra-Fresh has a 42 years performance record in international textile applications.

HM-20000 (fabric): an high performance fabric which is based on the Super Microft, in fact the outside of the HM-20000 is the same as the Super Microft but we have laminated a membrane underneath it. With the HM-20000 we have a waterproof fabric because the membrane gives it a 20000mm water-resistance. So the HM-20000 is a waterproof breathable laminated shell fabric, durable (because the outside is a microfiber), lightweight and extremely breathable.  A Durable Water Repellent have been applied on the fabric

Cationik: a light and soft touch downproof fabric.  100% Polyester and Calender (the surface has been heated).  You will be surprise by the comfort, the lightness and the suppleness of that fabric!  A Durable Water Repellent have been applied on the fabric

DNS:  Combines super water repellant surface with micro cell technology balancing wind and water protection with maximum breathability in a ligh weight comfortable fabric.  A very high tech fabric, waterproof & ultra breathable because it has no membrane.

Otron: our lining made of 100% polyester breathe extremely well.  It's a very supple fabric that improves the insulation capacity and to keep the warmth because your heat is quickly transfered to the insulation.  To stay dry and confortable in your parka it's crucial to have a polyester lining, because it's the best fiber to repels the humidity.  When choosing  a parka, try to eliminate those which has a Nylon lining.  Most of the time Nylon does'nt have the suppleness of the Polyester and the same capacity to evacuate the humidity.  So if you want to stay dry, warm and confortable, the lining composition has a big impact. 

Before that a piece leave our warehouse to our partners stores every single piece is handily steamed and controlled to make sure that every shipment is perfect.  Our quality control is done for domestic and overseas production.

We are using the highest quality of fabric which is mainly coming from Japan, as the buttons, zippers and snaps everything is from YKK.  Our Insulation is from Dupont.  Most of our zippers are swivel to reduce the stress and on most of our parkas the front zip is 2-way, so you can open it from the top or the bottom (to be more comfortable when you are sitting).

The “mm” indicates the water-resistancy of the fabric, which is calculated by “Hydrostatic” test with a column of water.  The column filled of water put a certain amount of pressure (depending how long the column is) on a square inch of fabric over a 24hr period.  The number of “mm” is the height of the column (generating a certain pressure because filled of water) the fabric can resist without leaking.  The “rain test” norm in the USA is 700mm and 1000mm in Canada.

We are using furs for 2 reasons, first for a technical purpose: the multitude of hairs creates a beneficial microclimate which considerably moderates the unpleasant effects of the wind-chill factor.  Exhaled water vapour condenses on the hairs and emits a sizeable quantity of heat (about 700 calories per grams).  The second reason is simply for aesthetics.

We are using 3 types of fur, first Coyote, farmed Blue Fox & Synthetic. 

In North America there is no quota in place regarding the Coyote, and there is a reason for that.  The man has to trap and hunt the coyote to control and maintain the population of many animals: the deer, the hare and even the coyote itself.  Effectively the coyote can be dangerous for itself because when their population is not controlled they get quickly in pack and at that time it’s getting very dangerous that they start an epidemic of rage (they get the rage from co-sanguinity, which has a big potential when they live in pack).  Every biologist and environmentalist agrees that the man (the only coyote’s predator) has to play a role to control the coyote population to maintain the wildlife equilibrium and event to prevent rage epidemic.  Our fur proceed from Alberta (Canada), in that province they have the best fur quality and above all they really have to reduce the coyote population year after years, such that the Government put an incentive; in fact the government is paying hunter for bringing them back coyote!  The coyote is a fantastic animal but to prevent is extinction and potential damages his population has to be controlled.

Yes the fur is optional over every parka, except for the Inuit and Vostok II.