OAKBROOK, ILL.—1888 Mills LLC has launched its first socially sustainable luxury terry line for the hospitality industry through its exclusive partnership with the Cotton Made in Africa project (CmiA). 1888 Mills, a leading global manufacturer of home and commercial textiles, will pair CmiA cotton with Oasis, one of its top-selling hospitality terry programs.
“We have had tremendous success with our environmentally focused brands like Green Threads and Whole Solutions,” said Jack Bray, president of the Commercial Products Division at 1888 Mills. “Adding CmiA to Oasis is a great way to broaden our progressive sustainability initiatives.”
Founded in 2005, the CmiA project’s main goal is to form alliances within the industry to increase demand for African cotton. This improves the lives of more than 165,000 farm families in the initial project regions of Benin, Burkina Faso, Zambia and Mozambique. The commitment of 1888 Mills to purchase this cotton ensures the project’s social impact and long term sustainability.
“Currently, there is no product of its kind that offers the transparency and impact that CmiA does,” said Chris Motley, director of sustainability at 1888 Mills. “Farmers are able to afford a better life for themselves and their families. The most profound aspect of the project is that it is not charity, but rather the use of market forces to reduce poverty in a sustainable way.”
1888’s retail division has already experienced a high level of success through its unique partnership with the CmiA project. In spring 2009, 1888 Mills teamed up with interior designer Nate Berkus to launch a CmiA bath towel program available through the Home Shopping Network (HSN). Other prominent retailers that carry 1888’s CmiA terry brands include Macy’s.com, and Amazon.com.
Commercial properties can purchase Oasis with CmiA terry product through major national hospitality distributors.
Go to 1888 Mills.
