The invention provides migration resistant batting that includes a nonwoven web comprising a first surface parallel to a second surface, and a fiber mixture that includes: 35 to 65 wt % synthetic polymeric fibers having a denier of less than or equal to 1.0, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 10 to 30 wt % spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers having a length of greater than or equal to 60 mm, wherein 50 to 100 wt % of said spiral-crimped synthetic polymeric fibers are siliconized fibers; 20 to 50 wt % elastomeric fibers having a denier between 2.0 and 7.0; and 5 to 25 wt % synthetic binder fibers having a denier of 1.5 to 4.0, said binder fibers have a bonding temperature lower than the softening temperature of the synthetic polymeric fibers, wherein said first and second surfaces comprise a cross-linked resin. Also provided are articles comprising the batting and methods of making the batting.

The invention provides batting that includes a nonwoven web comprising a specified fiber mixture, the non-woven web having 50 to 95 wt % of a plurality of fiberballs having an average diameter of 3.0 to 8.0 mm; and 5 to 50 wt % of a plurality of portions of the nonwoven web that are adjacent to one or more fiberballs but that do not themselves comprise one or more fiberballs or any portion thereof. The batting has a density of 2 to 12 kg/m3. Also provided are articles comprising the batting and methods of making the batting.

The invention provides batting that includes a nonwoven web comprising a specified fiber mixture, the non-woven web having 50 to 95 wt % of a plurality of fiberballs having an average diameter of 3.0 to 8.0 mm; and 5 to 50 wt % of a plurality of portions of the nonwoven web that are adjacent to one or more fiberballs but that do not themselves comprise one or more fiberballs or any portion thereof. The batting has a density of 2 to 12 kg/m3. Also provided are articles comprising the batting and methods of making the batting.

A fabric has enhanced response characteristics for laser finishing. The fabric can be denim for denim apparel such as jeans. Software and lasers are used to finish apparel made of the fabric to produce a desired wear or distressing pattern or other design. The fabric allows for relatively fast color change in response to the laser, color changes in hue from indigo blue to white, many grayscale levels, and maintains strength and stretch properties. A method used to make the fabric includes spinning, dyeing, and weaving yarns in such a way to obtain the desired enhanced response characteristics for laser finishing.

A fabric has enhanced response characteristics for laser finishing. The fabric can be denim for denim apparel such as jeans. Software and lasers are used to finish apparel made of the fabric to produce a desired wear or distressing pattern or other design. The fabric allows for relatively fast color change in response to the laser, color changes in hue from indigo blue to white, many grayscale levels, and maintains strength and stretch properties. A method used to make the fabric includes spinning, dyeing, and weaving yarns in such a way to obtain the desired enhanced response characteristics for laser finishing.

A method for producing a filling material comprising goose and/or duck down and vegetable kapok fibres comprises feeding vegetable kapok fibre to a mixing chamber (16), separating elementary kapok filaments (210) unbound from each other from the vegetable kapok fibre in the mixing chamber (16) by directing jets and/or blades of a pressurized fluid against the vegetable kapok fibre, feeding goose and/or duck down to the mixing chamber (16) and incorporating elementary kapok filaments (210) unbound from each other into the flakes (101) of goose and/or duck down (100) by mixing the elementary kapok filaments (210) and the goose and/or duck down in the mixing chamber (16) by means of said jets and/or blades of pressurized fluid fed for example by suitably oriented nozzles (33).

A method for producing a filling material comprising goose and/or duck down and vegetable kapok fibres comprises feeding vegetable kapok fibre to a mixing chamber (16), separating elementary kapok filaments (210) unbound from each other from the vegetable kapok fibre in the mixing chamber (16) by directing jets and/or blades of a pressurized fluid against the vegetable kapok fibre, feeding goose and/or duck down to the mixing chamber (16) and incorporating elementary kapok filaments (210) unbound from each other into the flakes (101) of goose and/or duck down (100) by mixing the elementary kapok filaments (210) and the goose and/or duck down in the mixing chamber (16) by means of said jets and/or blades of pressurized fluid fed for example by suitably oriented nozzles (33).

An article of apparel including insulation material includes an insulating layer formed of waterfowl fibers and synthetic fibers. The waterfowl fibers can be present in an amount of at least 20% by weight of the insulating layer. The insulating layer is generally free of waterfowl plumage.

Among other things, the inventive subject matter generally relates to bulk fill materials suitable for an insulative or cushioning material. The bulk fill material consists of a plurality of discrete units comprising clusters or loose webs of fibers. The fibers consist of superfine fibers and/or fibers in a range of 1 to 5 denier; the fibers being entangled to form the clusters or loose webs. In some embodiments the clusters or webs are multinode fiber structures that mimic natural down. The inventive subject matter is also directed to related methods of production.

Laser finishing of apparel products allows an operating model that reduces finishing cost, lowers carrying costs, increases productivity, shortens time to market, be more reactive to trends, reduce product constraints, reduces lost sales and dilution, and more. Improved aspects include design, development, planning, merchandising, selling, making, and delivering. The model uses fabric templates, each of which can be used to produce a multitude of laser finishes. Operational efficiency is improved.