“Why are your blinds more expensive than 3 for £99?”
It’s a question we get often and it’s a good one.
For some businesses their aim is to sell, make and install as many blinds they can and that is fine it is just not us.
Our aim has always been to make the best blinds we can, not the most blinds we can.
For some homes and situations, budget blinds absolutely serve their purpose. But if you’re looking for longer-term value, environmental responsibility, and fabrics that genuinely perform, here’s why our blinds cost more and why many of our customers are glad they made the investment.
It starts with what’s behind the fabric.
Many lower cost blinds are made using:
- Virgin plastics or basic yarns bought at the lowest price
- Mass production methods with limited environmental oversight
- Factories with unknown working conditions and no third-party audits
- No formal testing for fire safety, colour fastness or durability
They may look fine to begin with, but often fade quickly, wear out faster, and may not meet key UK safety standards.
What we do differently at Barlow Blinds:
✅ Fabrics with certified sustainability and safety
We carefully choose fabrics from suppliers who meet international certifications including:
- OEKO-TEX® STANDARD 100 – tested for harmful substances, ensuring fabrics are safe for homes, schools, and healthcare settings
- OEKO-TEX® STeP – a globally recognised certification for environmentally friendly, socially responsible manufacturing
- GREENGUARD Certification – ensures low chemical emissions for healthier indoor air quality
- ISO 9001 & 14001 – recognised standards for quality management and environmental responsibility
✅ Recycled and low-carbon materials
Many of our roller and vertical blind fabrics are made from recycled plastic bottles — over 4,600 bottles reused in just 20 metres of roller blind fabric, including 1% collected from ocean waste.
✅ Tested fire safety and UV resistance
All our fire retardant fabrics are independently tested and certified to UK and European standards, using halogen-free FR treatments that are safer for your home and less polluting to water systems.
✅ Made locally, not shipped across the world
Our Vertical and Roller blinds are manufactured in our Leicester factory, reducing transport emissions and waste.
✅ Ethical, people-first supply chain
We only work with fabric manufacturers who undergo regular independent audits, meet fair wage and working condition standards, and demonstrate full traceability in their supply chains.
So why spend more?
Over the last few years with more and more special offer blinds coming onto the market blinds have become a throw away item.
- Problem with the chain… throw it away
- Marks on the fabric… throw it away
- Change of colour scheme… throw it away
- It doesn’t fit properly… throw it away
It doesn’t have to be that way. If you invest in a quality blind from the start and get it professionally installed you should get at least 10 – 15 years out of your blinds.
Even then parts can be replaced, fabric can be changed to suit your décor without having to throw the whole blinds.
We recover on average over 250 blinds per year. We collect the blind, take off the old fabric, replace it with new and then refit the blind. So you are all ready for another 10 years.
We replace fabric on Roller Blinds, Vertical Blinds, Patio Awnings and Perfect Fit Blinds.
We know our blinds aren't right for everyone and there’s no judgement as some homes and budgets suit a simpler blind.
But when you want one that’s made with care, responsibility, and long-term quality, we’re here to help.
