About Us
Our Story
It all began in the wilds of Loðmundarfjörður, one of the most spectacular fjords in Iceland.
Picture a lush valley surrounded by striking black mountains. In 2018, Ragna and her husband visited the fjord’s eiderdown sanctuary, where Oli and Johanna, two local farmers, uphold an age-old Icelandic tradition; eider duck caretaking.
When they arrived, they were greeted by the strange sight of eider ducks nesting everywhere — between rocks, driftwood, bundles of rope, and even old tires. Oli and Johanna had carefully created makeshift shelters for the wild birds, who seemed perfectly at ease living alongside humans.
Hours flew by as Oli shared captivating stories of the local area, its history, and his beloved eider ducks. But he had one regret: sending the raw eiderdown abroad, where foreign companies used Iceland’s most treasured natural resource.
For Ragna, that was the moment of revelation—and Icelandic Down was born.
Icelandic Down was founded with a vision to revive ancient traditions of sustainable craftsmanship.
Ragna quickly recognised the opportunity to bring eiderdown production back to Iceland. Today, Icelandic Down is the country’s leading manufacturer and exporter of eiderdown products.
In keeping with our Icelandic heritage, we manufacture all our bedding with local materials and labour in the picturesque village of Borgarfjörður Eystri, east Iceland.
Our eiderdown is also uniquely sustainable; the eider ducks seek out the safety of our sanctuaries and naturally leave their down behind after nesting. This harmonious bond between man and bird perfectly reflects our ethos as a company.
Meet The Icelandic Down Family
Icelandic Down is a close-knit team where every member bring unique skills and talents. But more than that, we're a family.
Ragna: Founder and CEO. She handles sales, business strategy, and customer service.
Anna: Operations manager. She oversees social media and handles our entire production workflow.
Astros: Quality control, packing, and shipping. She makes sure every product meets our high standards.
Erica: Logistics. Originally from Holland, she works closely with Freyja during production.
Freyja: Samstress. She skillfully crafts all of our eiderdown products. She is also a part-time sheep farmer!
Our Farmers
The wilds of Iceland are beautiful, but they can also be dangerous—especially for the Common Eider, which has many natural predators. Our farmers take great pride in providing them with sanctuary. They labor tirelessly to protect the birds, monitor them during breeding, and keep predators at bay.
They cherish these two months of peaceful, mindful work immersed in nature. The precious eiderdown, left behind after nesting season, is just a bonus. Eider farmers, with deep ties to the land and its traditions, are deeply committed to sustainability. As the demand for eiderdown grows worldwide, their role in preserving our country’s cultural heritage is crucial.
Eiderdown Sanctuaries
Seven locations across Iceland.
Seven sanctuaries spread across Iceland’s wildest valleys, fjords, and shores, far from civilization.
Some, like Andey in Fáskrúðsfjörður, tell stories of rejuvenation, where Icelanders have worked diligently to restore once-abandoned colonies to thriving populations of thousands of eider ducks.
Others, like Hólmar and Hafnarhólmi, have a long tradition of eider farming that goes back over a century.
Together, these eiderdown sanctuaries represent Iceland’s commitment to sustainability and custodianship of nature, ensuring that the rich legacy of eider farming continues.
Loyal Customers From 40+ Countries
Since 2017, we have crafted and delivered luxury eiderdown bedding to hundreds of discerning customers across Europe, Asia, Australia, Canada, New Zealand, South Africa, and nearly every state in the U.S. We have even shipped across the Sahara Desert!
Our customers are discerning individuals willing to invest a premium for unparalleled warmth, comfort, and durability of their bedding. They also care deeply about sustainable craftsmanship that works in harmony with nature, rather than against it.
