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Man in a black Mizusawa Down jacket standing in front of a large granite boulder

Brand Portrait · Japan

Descente Allterrain: the down jacket without seams

In a factory in Mizusawa, northern Japan, more than 280 steps go into every Mizusawa Down jacket. No stitched seams, no cold spots, and a very clean look.

Live from Mizusawa (Ōshū)

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From Zurich
9'311 km

Some down jackets keep you warm. Mizusawa Down jackets are engineered. Descente Allterrain, the most technical line of the Japanese sportswear company Descente, makes them in its own factory in northern Japan, and it shows in every detail.

Man in a pale grey Mizusawa Down jacket by a rocky river
Image: Descente Allterrain

01 / 03

A factory in Mizusawa

Mizusawa is a small town in Iwate Prefecture, in the north of Japan's main island. Descente runs its own down factory there, which the brand calls one of the few in Japan with a fully integrated production system for down wear. Every Mizusawa Down jacket goes through more than 280 specialised steps, «more than twice that of a typical down jacket», in the hands of experienced craftspeople.

Woman in a beige Mizusawa Down jacket over a dark blazer, trees behind her
Image: Descente Allterrain

02 / 03

No stitched seams

The big problem with down jackets is the seams: where the baffles are stitched, cold and moisture get in. Mizusawa Down avoids stitched seams. The chambers are bonded instead, which makes the jacket more waterproof and warmer. The first model, the Anchor, came out in 2008. The Mountaineer is the brand's signature today.

Man in a long dark down coat and brown trousers next to a concrete wall in a forest
Image: Descente Allterrain

03 / 03

Built for the mountains, worn in the city

Allterrain launched as its own line in 2012, and its idea is right there in the name: clothing for all terrain. The jackets are made to handle real cold, yet their quiet colours and clean lines fit just as well into city life. For the autumn and winter 2026 collection, the line also introduced a new fabric developed with environmental responsibility in mind.

Your turn: is a Mizusawa Down jacket worth its price compared with a classic mountain down jacket?

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The Kit

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  • Descente Allterrain

    Mizusawa Down Jacket «Mountaineer»

    CHF 1,259

    The signature model: a hooded down jacket with bonded instead of stitched baffles, waterproof zips and a clean, almost architectural shape.

    View at Descente Allterrain
  • Descente Allterrain

    Mizusawa Down Oversized Jacket «Mountaineer»

    CHF 1,259

    The same jacket in a looser, oversized cut.

    View at Descente Allterrain
  • Descente Allterrain

    Heat Circulation In-Down Jacket

    CHF 405

    A light, collarless down jacket that works on its own or as a warm layer under a shell.

    View at Descente Allterrain

Prices as listed on the brand's own website, November 2026.

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