The cotton for these luxurious bathmats was grown organically to cut back on pesticide use, and was then imported on fair trade terms to ensure that no one was exploited to bring it to you. The mats are made in India. The factory founded their textile business in 1934 and the move towards organic began in 1993 when they started the first organic cotton project in Central India. This company now pre-finances the organic and small-scale cotton farmers it supports and has given an undertaking to buy all the organic cotton they can produce for the next 3 years. Cotton farmers get a Fairtrade premium in addition to the organic cotton premium. This has created a sustainable working relationship with commitment from all parties and a share in profits thus greatly improving the living conditions in some of the poorest regions of India. They have also established a purpose built manufacturing unit in Kolkata. Here employees are paid above the minimum wage, given health and medical cover for themselves and their families and assured good working conditions and support towards government community health, education and accommodation projects.