Feather Factory owner Cathy Bull has been in the business of making, cleaning and refurbishing down and feather products for over 22 years. Starting with a one-woman workshop in a west Toronto neighbourhood, Cathy expanded her business into the present Feather Factory location on Queen Street West in 1999. Since Cathy is one of the few people anywhere who does this kind of work, Feather Factory has developed a loyal clientele and an excellent reputation for the quality of its products and workmanship.
Cathy’s unique knowledge and experience with down and feather products has led her down some interesting roads. On one occasion, the Pope was planning to visit Canada and Air Canada needed to have a bed made up for the pontiff to sleep in en route. The airline called Cathy, who made a down pillow for His Holiness. “I wish I could get that pillow back,” Cathy says. “It would be a real one-of-a-kind memento.” Cathy has also spent time in Nunavut working with a group of Inuit women who harvest eiderdown, a slow, labour-intensive job. Living in an isolated community on the Belcher Islands, the women now have the skills they need to make and sell their own eiderdown duvets.
Part of the mandate of Feather Factory is to educate our customers on the advantages of natural fibre bedding and down products, as well as the proper care and cleaning of down. The store has been featured in both Harrowsmith and Toronto Life magazines, and Cathy was interviewed in 2001 by The Life Network for their television program 'The Goods.' She discussed what to look for when selecting a duvet, an expensive decision people often leave to chance. Cathy has been invited to dress a bedroom for the Toronto Home Show, and she has collaborated with interior designers on projects ranging from down and feather throw cushions to custom bedding for a yacht.
Feather Factory's unique mix of products and services truly makes the store "a gem in Parkdale," as one customer put it. "This business is really about problem-solving, and has been for 20 years," says Cathy. "The problems may vary, but my willingness to attempt to solve them remains a constant." Giving back to the community is also part of Cathy's business philosophy. For the past three years, Feather Factory has encouraged customers to bring in gently used bed linens, which are then donated to local transition houses for women and children leaving abusive relationships. Redwood Shelter and Womens' Habitat have benefited from this effort . Cathy also regularly supports local school and community fundraising projects.
