Challenging a 1000-Year History of Goose Down with NASA Technology [Corporate Research Institute]

Quilt of Denmark, the Goose Down Bedding Specialist
A 25-Year-Old Company Challenging a 1,000-Year Tradition
The First in the World to Use Ethically Sourced Fillings

Editor's NoteSouth Korea's corporate research and development (R&D) expenditure ranks 2nd globally (2022), and its number of patent applications filed in the United States ranks 4th (2020). However, the productivity growth rate of companies has sharply declined from an average annual rate of 6.1% during 2001-2010 to 0.5% between 2011 and 2020. This is because the productivity growth of 'innovative companies'?firms actively engaged in innovation activities?has slowed down. Without change, companies will be ignored by the market. To help the industry regenerate its innovation DNA, we examine innovation cases pioneered by renowned overseas companies. Innovative companies will be the catalyst to boost the stagnant Korean economic growth rate.

If Prince Hamlet of Denmark, the protagonist in Shakespeare’s play Hamlet, were a real person, he would probably have worn a goose down jumper. The play is set during the reign of King Knut of Denmark (1014?1035), and about 1,000 years ago, Danish royalty wore clothes made from goose down. Hamlet likely used goose down bedding to endure the cold winter at Kronborg Castle in Helsingør, located 40 km north of Copenhagen.

Goose down is said to have been first commercialized in Denmark over 1,000 years ago. The era of King Knut marked the beginning of a vast North Sea empire encompassing parts of England, Norway, and Sweden, and goose down products likely spread throughout Europe during this time. Products made from goose down thus have a long and strong tradition in Denmark. Danish goose down has secured excellent competitiveness, and many companies already sell products made from this material.

An employee making bedding products for Quilt of Denmark (QOD). Source=QOD official website

Twenty-five years ago, Quilt of Denmark (QOD) challenged this seemingly red ocean industry.

The startup Quilt of Denmark led innovation by combining ancient tradition with cutting-edge technology. They applied technology developed by NASA to goose down materials. Using advanced temperature control technology, tiny heat capsules embedded in the products maintain a comfortable temperature throughout the night, promoting high-quality sleep. Quilt of Denmark prides itself on offering the highest quality products in the industry based on this technological capability. Although many competitors have recently produced similar products, QOD emphasizes the superiority of its quality as the original. The product has also been certified (Certified Space Technology) as ideally suited for space missions, including the use of specific materials and technologies.

Quilt of Denmark was also the first in the world and in Denmark to receive the 'DOWNPASS' certification. DOWNPASS certifies that feathers from waterfowl such as ducks and geese used in goose down filling are collected ethically and responsibly. Companies with this certification do not harvest down or feathers from live animals, nor do they use feathers from geese raised for foie gras production. Detailed traceability of how raw materials are sourced from farms is also possible.

To ensure even higher quality control, Quilt of Denmark applies OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class 1, one of the strictest and most widely recognized standards for European textiles and leather products, to its comforters and pillows. It has also obtained the NOMITE label certification, which proves the absence of house dust mites. To receive this certification, fabrics must be woven tightly enough to prevent dust mite penetration.

As a country made up of islands, the product lines are named after Danish islands. This reflects the company’s commitment to embodying the language, culture, and spirit of the Danish islands. It also signifies their dedication to craftsmanship and perfect control of the production process to uphold the reputation of the Made in Denmark label. All Quilt of Denmark products are manufactured at their own factory located in Bamdrupp, Denmark.