Today the Downia Group of Companies are leading suppliers of a complete range of bedroom products that principally use feather and down fillings.
The early days
The company commenced in Australia initially as a provider of feather and down filling for the furniture and upholstery industry. Then in 1946 we commenced operations in Thailand, and founded Siam Feather and Forest Products Co., Ltd, a feather and down processing and finished products manufacturing company.
Our vision for growth
The Downia brand was introduced in Australia in the early 1980's, which quickly became the leading feather and down bedroom furnishings brand selling to all major up-market retailers.
The early 2000’s saw the opening of Downia in Switzerland (Europe) , and then in 2006 we commenced operations in China.
Our vision is to be a successful world brand selling to Australasia, Europe and the Americas.
Sustainability
Australian Feather Mills Pty Ltd is an original signatory to the Australian Packaging Covenant - an industry initiative to reduce the environmental impacts of packaging to the environment.
Company History
The Downia Group of Companies, has its heritage dating back to 1911, when the first feather and down processing plant was established at Glebe Sydney, Australia. The operating company, Australian Feather Mills Pty Ltd (AFM) was incorporated in 1937, one year after the Australian Companies Act was promulgated. AFM is currently the market leader in feather and down in Australia.
In 1975 the Company moved from Glebe to Smithfield and then by 1986 the company had out grown the Smithfield facilities, and moved to Wetherill Park, which is the current location. All moves were to freehold facilities and in Sydney. The Wetherill Park plant saw extensive investments in automation in its manufacturing facilities, but economic necessity in 2002 required moving much of the manufacturing offshore to our Thailand based company. We still retain much of the manufacturing facilities in Wetherill Park serving as ``just in time`` production to service customers.
The late Keith Hyland, son of the founder, was stationed in Southeast Asia during World War II with the Australian Army, and he came to Thailand after the War, stayed and founded in 1946 Siam Feather and Forest Products Co., Ltd. Then in 1953, he moved to Vietnam and estalished Saigon Feather Mills.
Siam Feather Products Co., Ltd a Thailand based feather and down and finished products manufacturing company is head office for for the Downia Group of companies, and is one of the oldest feather and down manufacturing operations throughout Australasia. The Company established its core business in the processing of raw feather and down and in the manufacture of down filled products. Siam Feather operates from freehold facilities located on a canal off the main Chao Phraya river running through Bangkok.The factory has a customs bonded warehouse on site allowing raw materials and fabrics to be easily imported and then re-exported as finished products.
All group companies are privately owned.
The group currently operates in: Thailand, Australia, China and throughout Asia Pacific.