We first came up with the idea for oxton cotton as a result of our experiences whilst on an extended honeymoon, travelling in parts of the developing world. We were shocked by the appalling working conditions in many countries - all the more so by the realisation that many of the products made in those conditions would end up in the shops back at home, with no questions asked about how they were produced. We made a conscious decision then that we would try to make a difference - even if we wouldn't be able to change the world - by buying ethically-sourced products on our return home.

However, when we got back and were setting up our first home together, we soon realised that there was nothing on the market to cater for people like us who want to make the Fairtrade choice with everyday home items. We loved the elegant and classic bed linen we saw both on the high street and in specialist retailers but we couldn't find an ethical equivalent; so we set out to source one, for ourselves and for others like us - and oxton cotton was born.

Our values

It is important to us that all our products carry the FAIRTRADE Mark because this is the standard that we look for when buying products for ourselves. It was only recently that the Fairtrade Foundation first certified cotton, and until now it has mostly been used in the clothing industry, so we are very excited about our ranges of linen. All our cotton is 100% Fairtrade certified, grown by co-operatives of farmers in Mali and Burkina Faso (see Our commitment to Fairtrade for further details).

We believe that we have the same ethical responsibility to our consumers as we do to our producers and we are therefore committed to keeping our prices as competitive as possible, despite the Fairtrade premium that we pay for our cotton. We believe that by keeping our prices in line with those of non-ethical retailers, we will make it easier for you to make the Fairtrade choice. In turn, we hope this will lead to more people buying Fairtrade products and adding their voices to the growing consumer-led demand for fairer trade practices throughout the world.