NOT DOWN
Milkweed Vest
NOT DOWN is a collaborative design project exploring the use of sustainable materials in equitable fashion markets. The NOT DOWN vest was inspired by the insulative properties of Milkweed, an ecologically significant plant native to Canada. This project was meant to provide a sustainable and efficient alternative to bird feather down, which is widely used in winter apparel.
Creating the NOT DOWN vest involved a significant amount of research, prototyping and design practices. We began the process by researching and testing the ecological and thermal sustainability of Milkweed’s insulative fibers.
From there, we created the NOT DOWN brand. The visual identity of the brand was based on the colours found in late fall and early winter landscapes; the time of year when Milkweed pods release their fibers. The minimalistic logo was based on the Milkweed pod shape.
The vest itself was the first item created as part of a wider collection. Each season, the milkweed plant hosts 3 generations of caterpillar, each in a different growth stage. to pay homage to Milkweed’s relationship with these caterpillars, we created 3 garments named Gen 1, Gen 2 and Gen 3. Gen 1 is a vest insulated for use in early fall. Gen 2 features insulated sleeves for use in Late fall, and finally Gen 3 is a puffer coat, thoroughly insulated for use in Winter.
