Kapok is native to tropical Americas
and Africa, also grows in SE Asia where its a commercial crop. Probably, that’s where most Kapok used in PFD’s. Its also used in bedding and the wood is valuble as a commercial timber, prized for its long length…the Kapok tree is a canopy tree…and its attractive appearance as lumber.
Fulfill your Kapok dreams
If anyone has a hankerin’ to get into the kapok thing here’s some Indonesian sources for fiber, yard, mattresses, even cotton/kapok blended fabrics used for (among other things) underwear.
http://www.alibaba.com/showroom/Kapok.html
One merchant’s sales pitch: “…would like to sell my kapok fibre to your company. My kapok is the finest for filling to your product.” His/her English is significantly better than my Bahasa… RK
Its know as silk cotton. Supposed
to make great material, good for stuffing mattresses, and saving lives in PFD’s.
MEC - PVC free
Mountain Equipment Co-Op (a Canadian Co-Op similar in many respects to REI) sells its own brand of PFD’s that are made with a PVC free foam. They claim that they have offered this technology to any other companies who wish to use it. They also offer PVC-free drybags.
http://www.mec.ca/Main/content_text.jsp?FOLDER%3C%3Efolder_id=2534374302884174&bmUID=1194448530966
I’ve tried an Astral vest, and it was, indeed, very comfortable and well made. It seems to me, also, that vests that are used frequently will need replacing anyway due to abrasion, sun fading, and other wear/tear.