Luxury rug specialist Bazaar Velvet has strengthened its ethical sourcing credentials through its continued partnership with GoodWeave International, ensuring all handmade rugs meet stringent fair-trade standards. Alongside this, the company has developed collections through a Turquoise Mountain Foundation initiative that supports Afghan women artisans working from home.

Bazaar Velvet was founded 20 years ago by Christopher Mould and has since become known for producing bespoke, hand-knotted rugs for high-end residential and commercial interiors. Working from its London showroom, the business delivers commissions worth up to £85,000, with lead times starting from 12 weeks. Mould began his career at Harrods at the age of 16, earning Trainee of the Year in 1989, before launching Bazaar Velvet with ethics and transparency embedded from day one.

“It does keep me awake at night,” said Christopher. “I never want to exploit communities. Quality isn’t just about the materials and craftsmanship – it’s about knowing the people who create these pieces are treated with dignity and paid fairly. That’s been important to me throughout my 38 years in this industry.”

The company maintains workshops in Nepal and India, sharing facilities to closely manage production quality and labour conditions. A percentage of revenue from each GoodWeave-labelled rug is donated to programmes focused on ending child labour within the rug industry.

GoodWeave has freed more than 10,000 children from exploitative labour practices. During 2025, the organisation delivered educational access to over 100,000 children and ensured protections for more than 150,000 workers through regular monitoring. Funds contributed by Bazaar Velvet support health clinics, eye-care services for weavers and social protection registration initiatives.

“When sourcing for my clients at Bazaar Velvet, I have to be sure I’m helping clients the right way,” said Christopher. “There are a lot of producers out there, but not many with GoodWeave certification. That’s an important factor and always has been.”

Approximately a year ago, Bazaar Velvet collaborated with the Turquoise Mountain Foundation in Afghanistan to create a new collection. Designed and colour-led by Mould, the rugs were woven by women working from their homes and have since become part of the company’s permanent offering.

“The beauty of it really is about empowering women back into the workforce,” says Mould. “Women are banned from working in public spaces in Afghanistan, and girls still can’t be educated. The mothers and their daughters can now weave in their own homes to provide extra income for their families.”

Established by King Charles III in 2006, Turquoise Mountain Foundation works to preserve traditional crafts across several regions, including Afghanistan and the Levant. To date, it has trained over 11,500 artisans, supported 700 craft enterprises and generated $38 million in craft sales worldwide.

All Bazaar Velvet rugs are audited by Label STEP, GoodWeave’s fair-trade partner, ensuring safe workplaces, fair wages and strict prohibition of child labour. Independent inspections confirm ongoing compliance in Nepal and across supplier sites in India.

“We attract clients who understand that real luxury means knowing the story behind the piece – who made it, under what conditions, and whether their children are in school rather than at a loom,” added Mould.

“Quality and ethics aren’t separate for us – they’re the same thing. If the artisan isn’t treated well, the rug is tainted, no matter how beautiful it looks.”

Further details about Bazaar Velvet and its ethical practices are available at www.bazaarvelvet.co.uk.

A new British brand has launched with the aim of helping parents keep children warm outdoors without the daily struggle of persuading them to wear traditional winter hats.

Comfy Headbands officially launches today, bringing a Scandinavian-inspired solution to the UK market. Designed with active children in mind, the headbands are intended to support outdoor play in all weather while maintaining comfort and practicality.

The brand was founded by parents who experienced the effectiveness of Norwegian outdoor clothing while living abroad. Their idea was born out of a familiar challenge for UK families: children who reject woolly hats but still need their ears protected from cold conditions.

“Every British parent knows the battle,” explains the founder. “It’s a chilly morning, your child is heading out to play, and the familiar argument begins: ‘I don’t want to wear my hat!’ When we lived in Norway, we discovered that Scandinavian children had solved this problem with headbands – and we wanted to bring that practical solution to British families.”

In Nordic countries such as Norway, Sweden and Denmark, headbands are commonly worn by children during outdoor activity. By warming the ears and forehead while allowing heat to escape from the top of the head, they help prevent overheating and discomfort during energetic play.

This way of dressing reflects a well-known Norwegian mindset: “Det finnes ikke dårlig vær, bare dårlige klær” (There’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing). The principle focuses on choosing the right clothing to make outdoor life enjoyable year-round.

Comfy Headbands are specifically designed for children who are constantly on the move – whether playing football, cycling to school, or enjoying playground adventures. The headbands:

• Stay securely in place during active play without slipping
• Fit perfectly under bike helmets and sports helmets
• Prevent overheating by allowing heat to escape
• Protect ears from cold wind whilst maintaining hearing and vision
• Are made from soft, breathable materials that children actually want to wear

Available in a range of colours including black, red, grey, orange, and blue, the headbands are designed to appeal to children’s preferences whilst meeting parents’ practical needs.

British weather presents unique challenges for parents. Unpredictable conditions combined with active children mean traditional winter headwear often ends up lost, discarded, or unworn. Comfy Headbands offers a practical alternative that works with children’s natural activity levels rather than against them.

“We’re not here to sell something you don’t need,” the founder adds. “We’re here to solve a real problem that affects thousands of British families every winter. If your child refuses to wear hats, if you’re tired of cold ears and lost headwear, we created Comfy Headbands for you.”

Comfy Headbands are now available to order online at comfyheadbands.com, with delivery throughout the UK.

For more information about Comfy Headbands and the Scandinavian approach to outdoor play, visit comfyheadbands.com.

About Comfy Headbands

Comfy Headbands is a UK-based brand bringing Scandinavian outdoor solutions to British families. Inspired by years of living in Norway and experiencing the practical benefits of Nordic outdoor culture, the company provides headbands designed to keep active children comfortable during outdoor play in all weather conditions. The brand believes in the Norwegian philosophy that there’s no such thing as bad weather, only bad clothing.

Jeff Charlton, the founder of Building Forensics and recognised nationwide as the foremost specialist on mould and building-related illness, has urged the government to revisit and revise the newly implemented Awaab’s Law.

Charlton warns that the current legislation is “not fit for purpose” and cautions that, unless it is corrected, the reforms may cause further harm to the very tenants it aims to safeguard.

Awaab’s Law was introduced following the death of two-year-old Awaab Ishak in Rochdale in 2020, who died from a respiratory condition caused by severe mould in his social housing accommodation. Repeated pleas from his parents went unanswered by their landlord, prompting new legislation requiring landlords to handle damp and mould hazards promptly.

Charlton’s dedication to addressing mould-related illness is informed by more than 30 years of professional experience and a deeply personal ordeal. When his daughter was diagnosed with aggressive leukaemia, he discovered that toxic mould in her home had worsened her condition—an experience that drove him to expose the health dangers of indoor environmental contamination.

“I have written this in respect of the mum and dad because if we don’t get this right, and we haven’t, this is going to cause more harm,” said Charlton.

“For the good of the country, I am making this available for free because this needs to be seen and understood. The law is a nonsense. That is why I have written my report, ‘The Failures within Awaab’s Law,’ which examines all the failures that are unfortunately present.

“There were at least 270 flaws identified during the inquest into Awaab’s death, yet these were used to create the law. It is not worth the paper it is written on, and I want to shine a light on this situation,” Charlton explained.

Anyone wishing to review Charlton’s findings can request a free copy of “The Failures within Awaab’s Law” by contacting [email protected].