Our Family
An unique legacy of five generations.
Our heritage
Over 165 years of experience can be felt in every piece of made-to-order linen that bears the REED family name. Our story is interwoven with the history of cotton production in Britain and beyond, from our beginnings in Lancashire, England, where our ancestors founded their namesake cotton mill in 1852. Much has changed over the decades, yet the current generation’s commitment to making the world’s most beautiful, high quality and long-lasting linens remains strong. REED family linen is timeless, designed to be enjoyed every day and for many years.
Our Coat of Arms
Awarded to the Reed family by the College of Arms in London, our family heraldic crest tells the story of our involvement in the Lancashire cotton industry from the very beginning.
Our family motto
Mark’s mother’s family are direct descendants of Alice Nutter, an infamous gentlewoman who was tried and hanged for witchcraft in Lancashire in 1612, long before the textile industry began in that part of the world. His grandmother, Annie Nutter, passed on Alice’s motto which the family still live by today: “Good, better, best. Never let it rest. Until your good is better, and your better best.”
Our family today
Today our daughter, Pagan (named from the Latin Paganus meaning “of the countryside”) is a committed vegan and cherishes our company’s strides towards sustainability and environmental awareness. Mark indulges his boyhood passion by managing railways and writing books about railways in Africa. And Karen is the driving force behind the creative and marketing side of the business. Since 1992 her bedlinen designs have sold worldwide and she continues to drive Reed Family Linen forward ready for the next generation.
