Patagonia has announced the introduction of its new water-repellent down called Encapsil. On March 1, a limited edition of apparel containing the down will hit selected stores and internet shops in the U.S., Europe and Japan. The new material is a result of the Californian brand's partnership with the specialty company AeonClad Coatings, which began in 2010. Last September, Patagonia acquired a 15 percent stake in AeonClad. The companies jointly built up a new modern lab for research and development in Austin, Texas. The water-repellent down is based on a patented plasma nanotechnology without the use of any fluorcarbons.

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