Mason, OH, June 10, 2021 — Downlite Outdoor, a division of Downlite, a market leader in down and feather processing and a supplier of responsibly sourced performance fills to the outdoor, home furnishings, and hospitality markets, announces their new facility in Mississauga, Canada.
With the rapid growth of Downlite in the Canadian outdoor market, Downlite is opening a processing facility just outside of Toronto in Mississauga. The goals and reasons for this expansion are inseparable: to process and deliver down quickly to deliver the products and services our Canadian customers need.
The Downlite facility has new, state-of-the-art European equipment, allowing for maximization of cleanliness and performance in down production and sorting. Downlite can provide fresher material, shorten lead times, improve turn, and expand processing for the North American market.
“We are incredibly excited about the opening of our Toronto facility,” says Joe Crawford, CEO of Dowlite. “A fundamental part of the “Downlite Difference” is being the easiest partner for our customers to work with. This location, and its state-of-the-art equipment, will make it easier for our Canadian customers to receive the quality they need when they need it.”
The international Downlite board approved the expansion in the fourth quarter of 2019. Although there were then unforeseeable delay challenges with the worldwide pandemic, the Canadian team has been newly hired and trained. Downlite is a significant supplier to the Canadian home textile & outdoor markets, and is excited about this expansion of their manufacturing capabilities.
With over 100 years of down-processing experience, Ohio-based Downlite is a trusted partner to many of the most recognizable premier apparel and sleeping bag brands in the outdoor industry. Downlite has pioneered breakthrough innovations in performance down technologies and has emerged as a leader in traceability and transparency through its global supply chain and now circularity and reverse logistics.
Downlite has a rich history in feather and down sourcing, with origins dating back more than 100 years in Europe. Downlite is the largest US bedding supplier for the home and hospitality industries (Macy’s, Costco, Marriott International, W Hotels). Downlite is also one of the largest bulk down and feather suppliers to apparel and sleeping bag makers in the outdoor industry.
A leader in responsible sourcing, Downlite is proud to have been awarded the first RDS Scope Certificate. Additionally, Downlite was offered the first TDS-Certified supply chain globally— both from Europe and the US. Downlite has four US-based manufacturing sites and one manufacturing site in Canada; its sourcing teams are based in China, Europe, and the US. Downlite is bluesign certified, and a proud member of the American Feather & Down Council. Downlite Outdoor
Current Downlite customers include Patagonia, The North Face, Marmot, REI, Canada Goose, Lululemon, Ralph Lauren, Enlightened Equipment, Hammock Gear, Columbia Sportswear, Haglofs, Cascade Design, and TheBanana Republic.
