Lindsey Weber and Gwen Whiting, founders of THE LAUNDRESS, New York, believe that there is pleasure to be had in doing the laundry.  They launched the niche brand of upmarket laundry products in 2004 after becoming disillusioned with the effect that dry-cleaning was having on their expensive cashmere sweaters and their bank balances. The duo have now created a entire range of speciality detergents because different fabrics need different treatments. All their products are 100 percent biodegradable and free of harsh chemicals and dyes.