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cork as outerwear insulation
a proposed alternative to down and synthetic insulation
*in collaboration with Amorim
cork granules
outer section of cork oak tree bark; 1mm
insulative
water repellent
hypoallergenic
buoyant
compressible
EVA foam granules
post-consumer Nike sole grinds
lightweight
lofty
flexible
cork + EVA foam composite
combining the property strengths of both materials innovates technology and proposes an alternative to down and synthetic insulation
down
pros:
-lightweight
-compresses/packable
-great insulation
cons:
-doesn't repel moisture
-difficult to clean
-often not cruelty free
-expensive
synthetic
brick patterning to ensure even distribution of fill
pros:
-cheaper
-easier to clean
-slightly better moisture repellant
-hypoallergenic
cons:
-slightly heavier
-less warmth
-less durable
hand sifting waste product to separate granules by size
testing at Amorim's facilities in Portugal during a week long intensive
testing humidity levels after soaking + drying granules to mimic laundering
repeating testing with composite material to compare humidity levels
cork + EVA foam composite
combining the property strengths of both materials innovates technology and proposes an alternative to down and synthetic insulation
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