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Down jacket, known more commonly in the fashion industry as a puffer jacket or simply puffer, is a quilted winter clothing which is insulated with either duck or goose feathers. Air pockets created by the bulk of the feathers allow for the retention of warm air. The term down jacket is named after down feather, which is used in the jacket.
In contrast, if water absorbs into the jacket's down material, the down looses its puffy loft, and loses its warmth until it dries again. Some down jackets will be durable water repellent (DWR) which indicates that it can withstand a light drizzle of water for about an hour before it soaks into the jacket. Some jackets use hydrophobic down (i.e., down coated with hydrophobic material) to delay the absorption of water into the jacket. If a jacket does not have hydrophobic down or DWR, those properties can be easily added at home with products. Also, some down jackets are labelled as "downproof" to indicate that it will leak down feather less than a typical down jacket.
Real down has better warmth to weight ratio and compressibility compared to synthetic, but synthetic down has better water resistance. They are both equally durable.
Following its debut, the down jacket remained popular within winter outdoor sports communities for a decade. The puffer would begin to serve more than its utilitarian purpose in the 1940s, when it was tailored and marketed to the wealthy as an evening layer. The garment was reimagined in the 1970s as an athleisure jacket specifically marketed towards women by designer Norma Kamali. Named the "sleeping bag jacket", Kamali's version featured two coats sewn together with a synthetic down alternative packed between. Within the last couple decades, the down jacket has become a staple of winter fashion. Bright neon colored versions of the puffer were worn in Italy throughout the 1980s.
During the 1990s the jacket surged in popularity as a young generation of ravers would adorn themselves in the puffer, wearing it throughout the night during the winter months. A similar trend was witnessed in the United States throughout the 1990s and into the early 2000s, during which popular hip-hop artists began dressing themselves in the large jackets.
Designers and fashion influencers of 2020 reject cropped, bright-colored versions of the jacket, opting instead for a longer, knee-length layer with subtle shades of beige. Influencers continue to praise the garment for its ability to work with every outfit occasion. A surge in 1990s continues to help the jacket dominate. Pop culture reflects this trend as hip-hop artists like Kanye West and Drake may both be seen wearing the garment in recent music videos. (2026). 9781350934429, Bloomsbury. ISBN 9781350934429 In 2024, however, cropped puffer jackets continue to be in fashion.
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