SAVE THE DUCK’S MISSION TO PROTECT PEOPLE, ANIMALS AND THE PLANET
By: Erica Commisso
Winters can be brutally cold in certain Northern regions of countries like Canada, Norway and Iceland with temperatures dropping to bone-chilling lows that make it nearly impossible to step outside without bundling up. It is no wonder that, for centuries, we have turned to coats insulated with animal feathers to help us stay warm. Down-filled jackets, in particular, have long been prized for their exceptional warmth-to-weight ratio, trapping heat efficiently while remaining lightweight, comfortable and affordable. As the biting wind and freezing temperatures push us to seek the coziest options available, it is easy to see why nature’s own insulation has become a go-to solution for facing the harshest winter conditions. However, in recent years the harsh reality of animal cruelty has increasingly challenged the fashion industry to find alternatives to save animals and keep people warm.
Founder and CEO Nicolas Bargi started Save the Duck in 2012 with one goal in mind: to build a brand that prioritizes respect for all living beings and the environment. Grounded in sustainability, transparency, and regeneration, his vision aimed to redefine ethical fashion. The result is a collection of outerwear that are timeless, sensible and exceptionally warm. Each piece also embodies a commitment to giving back, making the brand a trailblazer in the fashion industry for its thoughtful, innovative approach to production.
Courtesy, Save the Duck
“I wanted to create a 100% animal-free product that reflected my ideas,” Bargi says. “The padding in our garments is PLUMTECH®, a synthetic, 100% polyester, heat-insulating material that recreates the softness of real down while retaining the benefits of thermal padding.” Using these materials eliminates the need for the feathers of ducks, geese and other birds, effectively saving their lives by allowing them to remain in the wild. Instead of harming an animal, Save the Duck is removing waste from the world and turning it into a durable material that can be used for a very long time while also reducing the amount of clothing waste.
Save the Duck goes above and beyond to ensure its business model is truly ethical. They work with certified suppliers who are regularly audited by third parties in order to monitor their social impact as well as their respect for human rights. Save the Duck prioritizes research and development in search of other alternative solutions that could also eventually replace synthetic materials.
Courtesy, Save the Duck
“It is crucial for us to preserve animals, such as geese from exploitation in clothing production,” Bargi says. “With a view to decreasing environmental impacts, we are more and more using, in the production of our garments, our PLUMTECH® padding in the recycled version, sourced from PET bottle bodies.”
Save the Duck pledges to donate 1% of sales each year to support international initiatives, associations and organizations that aim to protect animals, protect the planet's natural resources and enforce human rights. They select each recipient based on its project or global needs of the moment, like populations in need due to natural catastrophes, wars or any kind of emergency.
In terms of design innovation, Bargi says Save the Duck doesn’t follow a specific set of rules, but rather designs based on material innovation and availability as well as their technical performance abilities. In an industry often driven by fleeting trends and fast fashion cycles, it is truly unique for an outerwear brand to design its collections based on the sustainable materials available rather than chasing the latest styles. This approach challenges the traditional fashion model by prioritizing environmental responsibility and resource efficiency over seasonal aesthetics. The most recent result was a collection that is timeless yet chic.
Courtesy, Save the Duck
Although the fashion industry has come around to sustainability, Bargi says, there is still a long way to go in creating a fashion industry that promotes a better world for all living beings, and says awareness is simply no longer enough.
“When Save The Duck was born we were almost the only ones producing 100% animal-free garments. The fashion industry unfortunately understood too late the importance of sustainability, even on the sales side. Certainly the choice to give up fur is a starting point, but it cannot be a point of arrival, they will have to rethink all production models, the supply chain, employees, it is a very complex but necessary work. Change takes commitment and time, as well as investment, and I hope the whole industry will take a clear stand in support of the whole ecosystem. Together with other companies that share our philosophy, we hope to inspire more and more businesses in the upcoming future, to follow our steps.”
To shop or browse their online store, visit Save the Duck .