Pacific Coast Feather Company Glossary
AllerRest Fabric® - Specially woven to block dust mites and allergens from penetrating into your bedding. Our lab-tested allergen barrier is chemical and pesticide free.
American Down & Feather Council Certified (ADFC) - A voluntary association of manufacturers of natural fill bedding products, as well as dealers, buyers, sellers and processors of down and feather. One of the primary goals of the ADFC is to maintain and improve the product quality and labeling accuracy of natural filled bedding. All Pacific Coast® products are ADFC certified. The ADFC is a section of the Home Fashion Products Association (HFPA).
American Lung Association® - A non-profit organization that fights lung disease in all its forms with special emphasis on asthma, tobacco control and air quality. PCFC and the American Lung Association® are partners in helping educate consumers on how to improve air quality in their sleep environment. The American Lung Association® does not endorse products.
Baffle Box - Internal three-dimensional fabric wall boxes allow maximum thickness and comfort while maintaining even distribution within the boxes. Minimizes migration of fill for maximum comfort and support.
Barrier Weave™ - The Pacific Coast® proprietary fabric uses a tighter weave and special finishing so down and feathers won't sneak out. While the industry standard for air permeability is a CFM rating less than 10, Pacific Coast® Barrier Weave™ fabric has a rating of less than 5 CFM. Barrier Weave™ fabric is also finer, softer and more durable for lasting comfort and easy care.
Blown Fiber - Fibers are blown into a product and have free movement, much like down fill. Blown fills are adjustable, will resist matting and clumping, and are available in both micro-denier and cluster options.
Body Climate® Fabric - This exclusive Sealy fabric is designed to work with the properties of memory foam and latex. The fabric's bi-component fabric construction delivers superior moisture wicking and quick drying action. The balanced stretch and recovery optimizes the pillows performance. Channels within the surface of the fabric promote air circulation and temperature control.
Capture Top® Pillowcases - Envelope style closure keeps pillow in the case while providing a finished look.
CFM - Cubic feet per minute per square meter (CFM) is a measure of the air permeability of a fabric. The higher the CFM, the greater the volume of air passing through. While the industry standard for air permeability is a CFM rating less than 10, Pacific Coast® Barrier Weave™ fabric has a rating of less than 5 CFM.
Cluster - Synthetic fiber which is balled up into individual cluster puffs, much like down.
Comfort Lock® Border - Pacific Coast® patented Comfort Lock® design keeps the fluffy down on top for easy care. A three-sided border locks down in place over the sleeper, eliminating excess down shifting to the edges or bottom for maximum comfort.
Conformance® Supreme - Restful Nights® best synthetic cluster fiber with a finer denier and highly slickened finish.
Conjugate (Chemical) Crimping - A form of crimping that uses two different polymer fibers twisted together to create one fiber. As one polymer fiber cools more quickly than the other, the conjoined fibers warp to form a three-dimensional spiral pattern.
Continuous Filament Fills - Fibers are made with a highly specialized process that takes one continuous, long strand of fiber and laps it back and forth into a batt that will not clump, matt or shift.
Core Type - Core refers to the center of the fiber. There are three core types: solid, multi-hole and hollow.
Crimping - Adding bends or waves into the fibers (vs. straight fibers). Crimping increases the spring and loft of the fiber. There are two methods of crimping that produce two very different patterns: mechanical and conjugate.
Cut Length - The length of each individual fiber. Shorter fibers (< 2 inches) are blown into a bedding product, creating a more shapeable and soft feel. Cluster fibers (three-dimensional fiber puffs) and micro-denier fibers are usually short fibers. Longer fibers (> 2 inches) are garneted (combed) into a batt and inserted into a bedding product, resulting in a loftier, more springy feel.
Denier - The thickness of the individual polyester fiber. Technically, denier is defined as the number of grams of material required to make 9,000 meters of that material. Generally, higher deniers offer increased durability and support, while lower (finer) deniers are softer and more down-like. In the hospitality industry, polyester fibers are typically between .9 and 7 denier. Deniers under 1 are referred to as micro-denier.
Double Needle Sewn - Sewing/closing method produces ultra durable products that withstand the rigors of the hospitality industry. This method is standard on all Pacific Coast® products.
Down - A three-dimensional fluffy puff of many filaments that expand to provide softness. Down re-fluffs like new with proper laundering. It is natural, renewable and sustainable.
Down-Like Fills - Fibers are blown into a shell and have free, fluid movement, much like down fill. Down-like fills are available in both micro-denier, short staple and cluster options.
Durafill® - A value priced, mechanically crimped Restful Nights® synthetic fiber.
DuraLux® - An ultra-premium Restful Nights® fiber that delivers a luxurious feel with incredible durability.
EcoPoly Fills - An innovative, eco-friendly alternative to polyester fibers. These fibers reduce environmental impact by conserving oil and energy and by keeping unnecessary plastic waste out of landfills.
ExtremeClean® - Sealy® down and feathers are cleaned with a proprietary method that thoroughly removes all dirt, dust and allergens. The result is clean, fluffy down and feathers that perform night after night.
Feathers - Feathers have flexible central quills with soft filament. They have a natural spring-like quality that provides resilient support. Feathers are natural, renewable and sustainable.
Fill Power - Measures down's ability to loft and insulate. It is measured in cubic inches per ounce. Higher fill power creates a product with better loft, insulating ability and durability.
Finish - A variety of finishes can be applied to the exterior of a fiber. The most common finish is a slickening agent such as silicone which allows the fiber to adjust more easily without sticking to other fibers. The result is a silkier, fluid feel and greater resilience. Dry fibers do not have a finish and are not designed to withstand frequent laundering.
Garnet - Fibers are formed into a batt through a combing process and inserted into a product. Garnet fibers deliver exceptionally springy and resilient loft.
Hallmark Features - Pacific Coast® brand features that reflect the 125 year heritage and expertise of the brand. They ensure durable, superior quality products that provide a comfortable sleeping experience.
High Loft Fills - Fibers are garneted into a batt through a combing process that delivers springy and resilient loft.
Hollow Core Fibers - Allow more air between the fibers and have more surface area resulting in greater loft, resilience and insulation.
Hyperclean® - Pacific Coast® down and feathers are cleaned using our proprietary blend of mild soaps that are biodegradable, Ph neutral and environmentally friendly. This process removes dust, dirt and allergens that cause allergic reactions. What remains is clean, fluffy and supremely comfortable down and feathers and that means your guests can rest easy.
Ingeo™ Fiber - An ingenious, environmentally friendly material made from plants, such as corn, not petroleum. Ingeo™ fiber is made from a breakthrough process that does not use harsh chemicals or solvents, reduces greenhouse gas emissions by over 90% and uses over 70% less fossil energy than traditional materials. Ingeo™ fiber is available in both garneted and blown fiber types.
JTU - Japanese Turbidity Unit grades on a scale ranging from 0-550, the higher the number, the cleaner the product. Pacific Coast® fills are 500 JTU or higher.
Mechanical Crimping -A form of crimping that uses pressure and heat to form a two-dimensional zigzag (saw tooth) pattern in the fiber.
Multi-Hole Fibers - Have more than one hollow area running through them and have typically lower resiliency than hollow core fibers.
Micro Denier - Fibers are high quality, short staple blown fibers with a highly slickened finish. In order to be considered micro denier, a fiber must have a denier lower than 1.
NTU - Nephelometric Turbidity Unit grades on a scale of 0-20. 8-10 NTU is the industry average, the lower the number, the cleaner the product. Pacific Coast® fills average 5-6 NTU. The NTU turbidity measurement provides a less subjective means of measuring turbidity than the visual test used for JTU measurement.
Natural Bedding - Bedding filled with down and feathers.
Pacific Coast® Down and Feathers - Carefully selected and sorted so only the very fluffiest and highest quality are used. All Pacific Coast® fills are Hyperclean®.
Pillow Protector - A basic covering for a pillow to protect the pillow from dirt and oils. Used under a pillowcase, usually has a zipper.
Polyester - As a petrochemical, polyester is a form of plastic used in everything from clothing to bedding. In hospitality bedding, polyester fibers are used in fabrics and fills.
ProGuard® Protection - Factory applied treatment that provides exceptional protection that makes it difficult for stains to become permanent. It allows oil and water based stains to be removed during normal laundering.
ReliaGrip® Skirt - Sealy's® mattress pad skirt features spandex threads woven throughout to provide all way stretch ensuring a snug, secure fit on mattresses 7" to 22".
Renova™ Fiber - A resilient, high-performance fiber made from 100% post consumer recycled clear plastic bottles. Renova™ is available in both garneted and blown fiber types.
Solid Core Fibers - A dense, value-priced fiber fill with less loft or spring.
Short Staple Fibers - Fibers are cut at a length equal or lesser than two inches for a more adjustable, softer finished product. Cluster fibers and micro denier fibers are usually made with short staple fibers.
Slickened - A treatment for fibers with a slickening agent, such as silicon, that provides a silky, smooth finish. A slickening treatment allows the fibers to slide against each other more easily for increased softness.
Synthetic Fabric/Synthetic Fiber - A man-made fiber or fabric derived from compounds created artificially through chemical reactions. The most common synthetic material used in basic bedding is polyester, which is derived from petroleum.
SureHold® End Panels - Sealy's® patented sheet design features stretch end panels on the fitted sheet at the head and foot. These end panels stretch in all directions to ensure a snug, secure fit on mattresses 7" to 20". Extra elastic around the perimeter of the fitted sheet keeps it tucked in securely.
Thread Count - The actual number of threads in one square inch of cloth. Higher thread count fabrics are woven with finer yarns, softer, more luxurious, more durable, more breathable, and contain the tightest weave to prevent leaking. They are also the lightest and therefore maximize the down's ability to loft. A minimum of 230 thread count is necessary to be considered a truly leakproof fabric that prevents down and feathers from escaping. Our 230 thread count Barrier Weave™ fabric ensures the most leakproof fabric available.
Tria® Pillow - Pacific Coast® patented no-shift, triple chamber design provides superior support and comfort. Inner chambers hold Hyperclean® feathers in place for resilient support. A Hyperclean® down outer chamber provides cushioning comfort. Internal triple chambers are surrounded by fluffy, Hyperclean® down for luxurious, incredibly relaxing comfort.
Touch of Down® and Double Touch of Down® Pillow - Our most popular pillow design. Pacific Coast® pillow-in-a-pillow design has an inner pillow of Hyperclean® feathers to provide resilient support, while a fluffy outer pillow of Hyperclean® down cradles sleeper in luxurious comfort.
Trillium™ - A Restful Nights® exclusive micro-denier, highly slickened, short fiber with an incredibly silky, almost fluid feel.
Turbidity - Measures the cleanliness of down. It measures the amount of sediment or foreign particles present in the down sample. Better turbidity measurements mean cleaner products.
Ultima™ - A premium, conjugate crimped Restful Nights® synthetic fiber.
Ultra Essence™ - A Restful Nights® exclusive spiral spun, antimicrobial fiber that inhibits the growth of microorganisms while retaining superior loft.
Ultraflow™ - A value priced Restful Nights® cluster fiber.