To help answer any questions you might have, we have also compiled this FAQs section. If your questions are not answered here, hopefully it will be answered by the T&Cs. If not, please contact us by phone on +44 (0) 1736 339287 or email info@foufurnishings.com and we will answer your question as speedily as possible.
Why buy linens from fou furnishings?
We could give you lots of reasons, but will keep it brief. The organic bed or bath linen you buy from us will look and feel luxuriously soft, distinctive and comforting against your skin due to its exceptional quality and the organic cotton used to make it.
We strive to create the very best organic bed, bath and table linens from organic cottons or sustainable fibres for our customers. We took two years scouring the planet, to find the right quality in certified organic cottons, uniquely specifying and testing our products to international standards and establishing our supply chain from scratch, before we sold any linens. Our unique products and suppliers make sure that the quality we sell continues to be the best organic textiles that we can find.
You can create a stylish, eco fresh bedroom changing over your linens to organic cotton. We use only organic cotton and producers certified to the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS) wherever possible which means that you can sleep rest assured that your bedding is great for you and your family’s comfort, health and wellness as there are no toxins present in the organic cotton linens which can be found in conventional cottons.
What sheet fabric is best for my bed?
Different bed linen fabrics have different feels and it can be down to personal preference. Different fabric types are listed below.
What sheet fabric is best for Hospitality use?
If buying for hospitality use, our Hotel Collection has been especially designed to give the makeup and consistent quality and laundering and durability required for commercial use. Our other organic linens are also crafted to the quality required for hospitality and can be found in eco lodges, B&Bs, self-catering properties and boutique hotels.
How do I care for my linens?
Our care label recommends washing at 30 degrees and line drying. This reduces energy consumption by an estimated 40%. All of our product are independently tested to 60 degrees Celsius and tumble drying, but bed linen prefers to be line dried. Our Hotel Collection is tested to commercial laundry standards by our customers.
The biggest environmental impact arises in cotton product’s use through washing. To reduce the environmental impact of washing organic cotton products, we recommend using Eco-label standard detergents. Use of this powder, over conventional powders claims to reduce the harmful chemicals in washing waste water by 36-50%.
Can I return or exchange my organic linens if I am not happy with them?
We offer a no quibble returns policy. If you are not happy with your product, let us know and we will organise the return for you with a full refund.
Our customer policy is simple. To deliver on any commitment we make to our customers, as long as it is within our control, or to apologise and to make amends.
How do I know my personal details are safe?
Your online security and privacy are extremely important to us and we are compliant with Credit Card industry standards. We use encryption technology called Secure Sockets Layer (SSL) to ensure that any data is read only by those who have the authority to do so. Look out for the padlock symbol at the bottom of the screen which signifies that you are on a secure site. We take all the steps necessary to ensure cardholder information is safe. All payment is securely processed through Stripe.
What is Thread Count?
Thread count is defined as the number of threads, warp (lengthwise) and weft (width wise), woven in a one-inch square of fabric. Thread count is affected by a number of factors, including the ply and the thickness of the threads used. Ply refers to how many threads are wrapped together into a single thread. Single-ply fabrics use threads on their own, while two-ply fabrics are formed by two pieces of thread twisted together. A higher thread count contributes to quality and softness. Using a finer thread allows more threads to fit into a square inch measure, creating a softer, smoother fabric. A very high quality percale is a thread count of 200 or above. We only use high thread counts in our bed linens.
What does cotton Staple mean?
Staple refers to the length of the cotton fibre which comes in short, medium and long. High thread counts need to be woven from long staple fibres such as Egyptian which is renowned for its quality. Bed linen fabrics which are woven with long staple fibres inherently contain the natural strength, softness and durable quality of the fibre which will withstand frequent laundering outlasting those fabrics made from inferior or shorter staple cottons. Our organic cotton comes from long staple cottons.
What is organic cotton?
Organic relates to a farming system which uses a holistic approach to ensure the sustainability of the soil and extends to cover the production and processing of the cotton. Organic cotton means that the bed, bath and nursery linens you are buying is from cotton which has been grown organically, without synthetic fertilisers or pesticides, and treatments or processes use only natural or biodegradable means.
The definition of organic textiles according to the UK Soil Association (2007) outline the main features of organic farming as including severe restriction on the use of artificial chemical fertilisers and pesticides, the use of crop rotation to ensure the development of a healthy, fertile soil and growing a mixture of crops. Cambridge University (2006) echo the Soil Association and defines organic as cotton that has been grown without any use of synthetic fertilisers or synthetic pesticides and which has been defoliated by natural means (The University of Cambridge Institute for Manufacturing 2006).
How do I know organic cotton linens are sustainably sourced?
Our aim is to promote a sustainable supply chain. Or definition of sustainable supply chain is one which is economically viable, socially just and environmentally sound for all partners involved and at all stages of the supply chain. The reason for choosing organic cotton.
Where are our organic linen products made?
Country of origin refers to where the product was manufactured, but gives no visibility of the origination or social and environmental conditions in which the cotton fibre farming, ginning, spinning or milling may have taken place. Our certification, which extends from field to the final product, gives assurance on social and environmental responsibility as well as transparency on each stage of the processes used to make our organic textiles.
Our organic bed linens are made in India and also in Europe. Our organic towels are from Turkey and India. The linen lace four our ‘Shabby Chic’ bedding is from a two century old lace maker in Lithuania. The natural and organic wool duvets, pillows and toppers we sell are from the UK. Our Egyptian organic cotton bedding is from Italy. Our bespoke bedding is made in a certified atelier in Europe.
What is the Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS)?
The aim of the standard is to define requirements to ensure the organic status of textiles, from harvesting of the raw materials, through environmentally and socially responsible manufacturing up to labelling in order to provide a credible assurance to the end consumer. This standard for organic textiles covers the production, processing, manufacturing, packaging, labelling, exportation, importation and distribution of all natural fibres.
Who are the UK Soil Association?
The Soil Association is the UK’s leading certification body and environmental charity. We are independently audited by the UK Soil Association annually and certified through them to The Global Organic Textile Standard (GOTS).
What is Oeko-Tex class II?
Oeko-tex standard 100 was introduced in 1992 and achievement in this standard in one of IV classes signifies that product has undergone stringent testing by an accredited test centre to testify that the textiles are totally safe. Tests include legal requirements for substances such as carcinogenic dyestuffs, formaldehyde, softeners, heavy metals or pentachlorophenol. Also, products are tested for harmful substances such as pesticides, allergy-inducing dyestuffs or tin-organic compounds and precautionary parameters such as colourfastness and skin-friendly pH value. The higher the class, the greater the skin contact. Hence baby products tend to be in Class I and bed linen, because it is in contact with large areas of the skin, is in Class II.
Where does the name ‘fou ‘come from?
Our name. Dictionary definitions 1. Old Scots word for basket 2. Old Scots word for drunk. 3. French word for mad, the antitheses of what we are trying to achieve.
What Packaging do you use?
The bed linen will come to you with an organic cotton drawstring bag which you won’t have to dispose of. Instead, you can use it to store and keep your linen in pristine condition. Our customers and their children have found many practical uses for our organic cotton packaging. We are committed to using as high a content as possible recycled material where we can identify the possibility of using it. Our stationary is printed on 100% recycled and FSC materials.
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