1888 Mills Review
About 1888 Mills
1888 Mills is not a brand that was invented to sell on Amazon. They are a real textile manufacturer founded in 1888 in Griffin, Georgia, making them one of the oldest continuously operating textile companies in the United States. That history matters, because it means they have actual manufacturing infrastructure, supplier relationships, and quality systems built over decades, not a Shopify store and a sourcing agent in Guangzhou.
Their business is primarily B2B and wholesale. If you have bought Costco’s Purely Indulgent towels, you have bought 1888 Mills product. They supply hotels, resorts, and major retailers across the country. The consumer-facing brand is a secondary channel, not their primary business.
Certifications and Manufacturing
1888 Mills carries OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification, which confirms third-party testing for harmful substances. Manufacturing happens across their US operations and contract facilities in India. Both sourcing streams are documented, which is more than most brands in this space provide.
Their supply chain transparency is a genuine differentiator. When a brand has been supplying major retail chains for decades, there is accountability built into the relationship that pure Amazon brands do not face.
The Egyptian Cotton Question
Some 1888 Mills retail products carry Egyptian cotton labeling. We checked for Cotton Egypt Association Pyramid Mark certification and did not find it on consumer product lines. This is worth noting, though the context here is different from budget Amazon brands making the same claim.
1888 Mills is a sophisticated textile manufacturer with long-standing supply chain relationships. It is plausible that they source genuine Egyptian-origin cotton without using the CEA certification system. But plausible is not verified, and shoppers who care about confirmed Egyptian cotton should look for CEA-marked products.
What Buyers Report
Reviews for 1888 Mills consumer products are generally positive, with consistent praise for softness and durability compared to standard budget brands. Buyers who purchased Costco-branded products from this manufacturer tend to report multi-year lifespans and maintained softness through repeated washing.
The main complaint is pricing. When 1888 Mills products appear in consumer channels at premium prices, the performance does not always justify the cost premium over certified Egyptian cotton brands that offer stronger authentication.
Who 1888 Mills Is Right For
If you want a mid-range towel from a manufacturer with genuine credentials, 1888 Mills is one of the better choices available on Amazon and at major retailers. They are not the flashiest brand and they do not market aggressively, but the institutional track record behind the product is real.
Is 1888 Mills Legit?
Legit1888 Mills is one of the most credible manufacturers in the mass-market towel space. Founded in 1888 in Griffin, Georgia, they are a real textile manufacturer with domestic and international operations. OEKO-TEX certification across their product lines confirms third-party safety testing. Their Egyptian cotton claims on some retail products lack CEA certification, but the company's overall transparency and institutional relationships with major retailers set them well above most Amazon-first brands.
- Founded
- 1888
- Certifications
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100
What We Liked
- Genuine American textile heritage, founded 1888 and still operating
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified
- Supplies major retailers including Costco, a reliable indicator of manufacturing standards
- US and India manufacturing with documented supply chain
What We Didn't Like
- Primarily a B2B wholesale brand, consumer products can be harder to find
- Some retail products carry premium pricing that may not reflect consumer-grade manufacturing
- No CEA certification on any Egyptian cotton claims made on some retail lines
Frequently Asked Questions
Is 1888 Mills a real company?
Yes, and it is one of the few with genuine American textile manufacturing history. Founded in 1888 in Griffin, Georgia, 1888 Mills has been producing textiles for over 130 years. They supply Costco's Purely Indulgent towel line and have institutional relationships with major US retailers. This is not a drop-shipping operation or an Amazon-only label.
Are 1888 Mills towels OEKO-TEX certified?
Yes. 1888 Mills carries OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certification on their product lines, including consumer-facing products. This certification verifies testing for harmful substances and is issued by an independent body. It is one of the more meaningful certifications in this space.
Does 1888 Mills make Egyptian cotton towels?
Some 1888 Mills retail products reference Egyptian cotton. We checked and did not find Cotton Egypt Association certification backing those claims. That said, 1888 Mills is a sophisticated enough manufacturer to source real Egyptian cotton without necessarily using the CEA certification system. The claims are plausible but unverified through standard certification channels.
Where can I buy 1888 Mills towels?
1888 Mills products appear on Amazon under their own brand and under retailer house brands like Costco's Purely Indulgent. Availability varies by retailer. Their direct consumer presence is more limited than their wholesale business.
How do 1888 Mills towels compare to other brands?
1888 Mills sits comfortably in the mid-range, above budget Amazon brands and below specialty Egyptian cotton or Turkish cotton brands. The OEKO-TEX certification and genuine manufacturing background make them more credible than most brands in their price bracket.
Related Reading
Background on the claims this review references.