Why were grebe breast feathers once used in millinery?

Grebe breast feathers were once highly sought after in millinery due to their unique, silky texture and appearance. This distinctive quality is attributed to the relatively loose structure of the feathers on the bird's underparts, combined with spirally coiled barbules that lie parallel to the barbs.1

It is important to note that the historical, indiscriminate hunting of birds for such decorative purposes led to the severe decline of some species. Today, the exploitation of wildlife for fashion is widely recognized as ethically indefensible, and many governments now enforce strict conservation regulations to protect bird populations from such practices.23