The Beginning of the Challenge
In 2018, vegan mountaineer Kuntal Joisher posed a challenge to us: create an expedition suit without using any animal materials, capable of withstanding the extreme climate of the Himalayas.
A feat no brand had ever taken on before. At Save The Duck, we decided to embark on this journey.
PLUMTECH®:
OUR ANIMAL-FREE ALTERNATIVE
After several prototypes, we succeeded in creating a custom-made piece filled with PLUMTECH®, designed to be lightweight, insulating, and capable of handling temperatures as low as -50°C.
It was with our animal-free suit that, on May 23, 2019, Kuntal reached the summit of Everest, achieving an unprecedented milestone: no garment without goose down had ever ascended so high.
THE MISSION CONTINUES
FROM KUNTAL TO MINGMA TENZI
In 2020, Kuntal passed the torch to the Nepalese mountaineer Mingma Tenzi Sherpa, who soon made history with another record: the first winter ascent of K2.
But that was just the beginning. Mingma set his sights even higher: to summit all 14 of the world’s 8000ers, making mountaineering history while staying true to a 100% animal-free ethos.
MISSION COMPLETE
THE FINAL ASCENT
On October 1st, Mingma Tenzi Sherpa stood on the summit of Cho Oyu—marking the completion of his legendary mission to climb all 14 of the world’s mountains above 8,000 meters.
From the first step to the final peak, his journey proves once again that animal-free style and performance can push the limits of what's possible.