Small-scale production of big dreams

For us, this is an opportunity to have full transparency in how our duvets are made and to be able to be transparent about it. A scattered production with sourcing filling in multiple places and sewing in another - perhaps in several continents and with different suppliers each season - would be impossible for us to monitor and stand by. Instead, we collaborate with a small factory that, together with us, makes long-term plans for product development, procurement, and deliveries. Animal welfare was, of course, our first priority when we began producing duvets. European legislation regarding animal husbandry is strict. Therefore, our duvets are filled with down from European poultry used for food. It's a way of utilizing resources. Down farms in places like China and Canada are subject to completely different regulations. Our factory sews down products for some of Italy's most exclusive brands, and they have been using the same cotton and filling suppliers for decades. "We can't risk our reputation by switching to untested suppliers we don't know! All of our customers and partners depend on an absolutely reputable production chain. Looking for cheaper alternatives could quickly become unprofitable for us!" says the factory director in Italy. For us at Happy Fluffy Cloud, this is a secure guarantee that we are happy to talk about.

Our costs are, of course, slightly higher than if we were to produce in Asia. However, since we mostly sell directly to customers from our own webshop, we avoid markups in the sales process. And we can produce small batches with less risk. So overall, small-scale production is a wise business decision for us.

When we visit our factory, it's fun to talk to the seamstresses. They sew all sorts of things. From channel-stitched exclusive down vests where each channel is filled with a different amount of down (thus exactly different in grams!) "More filling over shoulders and neck for warmth, and less around the waist for the silhouette!" ... to sofa cushions for boats and hotels. They think our down duvets are totally bananas but fun. They fill the bolsters with a kind of reverse down vacuum cleaner. Initially, the packaging itself was a problem: packing the finished duvet in its fabric packaging was heavy and time-consuming. So we changed the dimensions of the fabric bag and our shipping boxes. The result is what you see today: perfect to the millimeter. Easy to pack but not overly bulky on the shelf. It's easy to find solutions when each step is clear.

Right now, it's peak season both at the factory in Italy and here in our warehouse. It's good to know that Giuliana, Riccardo, and the others have good coffee in the break room and sew each duvet with equal care.