The Rich History of Kapok

Kapok fibers have a fascinating history that dates back centuries. They were used in the all-natural life preservers carried by G.I.s during World War II, thanks to their impressive buoyancy. In the 1920s, kapok insulation was a crucial part of the gear for explorers tackling Mt. Everest, providing warmth in high-altitude boots alongside leather outers, gaiters, and crampons.

Kapok’s lightweight nature is remarkable—it's only one-eighth the weight of cotton, making it a natural choice for many applications. As one of the first non-food plants cultivated across Southeast Asia, kapok has a long-standing role in sustainable practices. Before goose down became popular, kapok was the go-to filling for pillows, giving it a vintage appeal that we like to call "Retro Green."

Why Kapok is a Better Choice than Goose Down

While goose down might seem like a humane option in theory—collecting feathers as they molt naturally—the reality is often much more troubling. The majority of down is sourced from birds kept in cages, many of which are slaughtered for cheap meat or foie gras. This means buying down products can come with a high risk of supporting unethical practices.

Kapok, on the other hand, is a plant-based "vegetable down" that offers an ethical alternative. Its natural buoyancy has made it invaluable in the maritime industry for decades, used in life belts, seat cushions, and mattresses due to its ability to stay afloat even when wet. Kapok can support 30 to 35 times its weight in water—compared to ordinary cork, which only supports up to 5 times its weight. As highlighted in a 1907 article in the Grey River Argus, kapok’s water-repellent properties made it an ideal choice for flotation devices long before synthetic materials came into play.

Is The kapok White Lotus Home uses in pillows or to sell as a bulk fiber, certified organic?

The kapok we have been using since 2008 or so, is not organic certified. It is a fiber that grows in the rainforest just like bamboo and there has never been much of a request or need for organic certification. It comes from Indonesia, since it does not grow in large quantities in the USA due to our lack of rainforest weather. However, we are able to get it GOTS Certified organic as soon as we are able to buy over 20 tons at a time. Something we are going to consider doing in the next year or so. Nothing compares to kapok. Softer and lighter than down, perfectly compressible for pillows, and naturally harvested from the Ceiba tree, kapok is the ideal filling for a pillow. Kapok is harvested from the seed pods that are dropped from trees in tropical rainforest regions, meaning your purchase of kapok is helping to preserve the life of a tree and encourage local economies in Indonesia and other tropical regions. Almost no work is required to turn the raw material into bedding fiber: it's manually picked clean, spun, and sent to us! If you like clean and sustainable products, you'll love kapok. And if you love soft pillows, you'll settle for nothing else. Used in: Sold as a Raw Bulk Fiber, Making Pillows and meditation zafus and cushions. The more you buy, the more you SAVE. EMAIL us for large bulk fiber orders: info@whitelotushome.com or call us at 732-828-2111.

does kapok deter dust mites like wool? is the kapok itself organic or just the casing you use?

It is known to be naturally hypoallergenic but it is not certified organic. The outer casing of our pillows will always be organic.

Customer Reviews

Overall User Rating
4.9 stars from 13 reviews

Susan B (West Roxbury, MA)

April 01, 2024

Already rated on another survey

Was this review helpful?

Wonderful-thank you!

Alice Mercer D (Southern Pines, NC)

November 22, 2022

Kapok is a wonderful product. I asked questions until I tried. Now I'll continue purchasing these inserts.

D Edward S (Niagara Falls, NY)

November 21, 2021

anyone who likes firm top notch quality

Joan F (Fair Oaks, California)

September 05, 2020

I made pillows to match my ottoman and filled them with these pillow forms. The forms are if excellent qualify and I would recommend to anyone wanting really good stuffing!

Lisa F (Rockville Centre, New York)

September 01, 2020

Love these pillows for sofa and bedroom! I replaced all of my synthetic pillow inserts with these and I love the quality!

Diane N (NEW BRIGHTON, Pennsylvania)

May 27, 2020

I used these inserts for a customer that wanted nice, soft, yet substantial pillow inserts that were organic. These were perfect.

Michelle
Huntley, Illinois, USA

November 21, 2019

I have purchased many Kapok Pillows from WLH. They are a truly amazing company. Their products and customer service are top notch! I'm blessed to have found them. Not only have I purchased many of their products, but I won a couple of pillows as well!

Donna T (Wakefield, Massachusetts)

June 26, 2019

Love!!!!

Missi P (Orange, California)

June 14, 2019

Super High quality. I like the look of down but wanted something that was animal friendly. This Kapok pillow is the perfect solution.

Kelley C (Brooklyn, New York)

February 09, 2018

Great quality, I tell everyone about this company.

Susan J (Baton Rouge, Louisiana)

Used as bedroom pillows. High confidence in chemical-free aspect, so overlooked the slightly lumpy feel. My husband loves his, still, though it is quite worn at this point and should be replaced. The quality is/was excellent and held up well beyond expectations.

Allia W (Raleigh, North Carolina)

Very comfortable

Kapok Decorative Pillow Inserts

These Decorative Pillows are firmly filled to be supportive, stand tall, and hold their shape! Looking for a softer, cozy, fluffier feel at a lower ⬇️ cost? You can find those here.

Kapok Decorative Pillow in GOTS Organic Case

✅Stock items ship in 48 hours, new ones are handmade in 1 - 4 weeks. STOCK LIST!

Is The kapok White Lotus Home uses in pillows or to sell as a bulk fiber, certified organic?

does kapok deter dust mites like wool? is the kapok itself organic or just the casing you use?

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