Home and commercial textile manufacturer 1888 Mills has rolled out a new line of 100 percent cotton bath and bedding products, created in partnership with Cotton Incorporated. The collection includes towels, sheets and bedding at opening price points designed to offer a natural alternative to synthetic textiles in the value category.
“Our goal was to create a collection that’s truly affordable and accessible, while giving consumers more opportunities to choose natural fibers,” said Lexi Schladenhauffen, chief merchandising officer of 1888 Mills. “We worked with Cotton Incorporated to highlight the benefits of natural cotton fiber, such as softness, breathability and durability.”
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Microplastics have become a hot topic in recent years, particularly with the proliferation of these microscopic pollutants in the earth’s water supplies. According to the Pew Charitable Trusts, an estimated 9-14 million metric tons of plastic waste escape into aquatic ecosystems each year, and a significant portion of that microscopic material is shed by synthetic fabrics during washing.
“We also recognize the growing awareness of microplastics in our environment and believe that towels and sheets, the fabrics we live closest to, should be as clean, natural and comfortable as possible,” Schladenhauffen said.
The collection offers essentials in neutral colors, with bedding such as sheets, quilts and comforters available in solids, yarn-dyes and prints, including an on-trend gingham. The assortment also is value engineered to meet aggressive opening price points while also filling the “good” category in good-better-best merchandising. Bath products boast lower grams-per-square-meter (GSM) towels, designed for softness and long-lasting loft after multiple washings.
The line also carries the Seal of Cotton trademark, Cotton Incorporated’s label that verifies the natural fiber content of products. That label holds weight, according to Cotton Incorporated’s Seal of Cotton Survey, which polled more than 1,500 people in 2023. That research found that 79 percent of consumers find brands using the Seal of Cotton trademark to be trustworthy, and 82 percent equate the label with sustainable production.
“1888 Mills champions cotton and consistently proves that natural fiber innovation meets real market needs,” said Marcy Gang, executive account manager at Cotton Incorporated. “This collection shows cotton delivers cost efficiency and gives consumers the comfort and performance they want at prices that rival low-cost synthetics. We welcome 1888 Mills’ commitment to making the benefits of cotton accessible to more people.”
