The part of the specification that decides your return rate
A bedding order rarely fails because the fabric feels wrong on day one. It fails because the sheet shrank, the colour shifted, or the elastic gave up — three months later, in your customer's hands. Here is what we test, what your market requires, and what we put on the label.
Why this page exists
Durability is not a quality slogan, it is a set of measurable behaviours under repeated washing. We would rather agree the numbers with you before production than discuss them after a return.
What we measure, and against what
The figures below are the acceptance criteria we work to. If your market or retailer requires something tighter, tell us at the specification stage — it changes what we buy and how we cut, and it is far cheaper to agree before production than to retrofit.
01
Dimensional stability
Shrinkage after repeated domestic washing, measured against the cutting specification. Industry expectation is within about 5%; we agree the tolerance with you at specification stage and cut with that allowance built in.
02
Colourfastness
Colour retention after washing and against light and rubbing. This is the property most visible to a customer, and the one most sensitive to dye-lot consistency — which is why we batch colourways deliberately.
03
Pilling resistance
Surface behaviour under abrasion and repeated washing, particularly relevant on brushed microfiber where the hand feel is created by the brushing process itself.
04
Elastic recovery
For fitted sheets: how much tension the elastic retains after repeated washing and stretching over a mattress. Corner patches fail here first.
05
Stitching integrity
Seam strength and stitch density, plus inspection for skipped stitches — the failure that shows up as a split seam rather than a slow decline.
06
Fill stability
For pillows: whether the fill weight and loft hold over time, which is a function of the fill specification and the closure method.
What we tell end customers to do
The care instruction on the label is part of the specification, not an afterthought — it shapes what the customer can reasonably expect from the product six months in.
| Machine wash, cold | Cold or warm at 30–40°C. Hot washing is the fastest route to shrinkage and colour fade. Use a gentle or normal cycle rather than a heavy-duty one. |
|---|---|
| Tumble dry low | Low heat. High heat is the single most common cause of the shrinkage complaints we see. |
| No bleach, no fabric softener | Chlorine bleach damages fibre and colour. Fabric softener coats brushed microfiber and reduces the hand feel your customer paid for. |
| Wash with similar colours | Particularly for the first few washes, and especially for deep colours such as charcoal and navy. |
| Wash before first use | Not required, but it removes any manufacturing residue and settles the dimensions before the customer judges the fit. |
Labelling, by market
Care labelling is regulatory, not decorative. The required content and language differ by destination, and mismatched labelling is a common reason for customs delays.
United States
Fibre composition and country of origin on a permanent label, per FTC requirements. Care instructions are expected and specific wording is protected — 'linen' in particular cannot be used loosely.
European Union
Care labelling with fibre composition, in the official language of each member state you sell into. In practice buyers run one multi-language label rather than separate labels per country.
Gulf / GCC
Arabic and English care labelling including fibre composition and origin. Saudi imports additionally require conformity documentation through SABER.
What we will not claim
In this category, most disputes start with a claim rather than a defect. These are the claims we decline to make, even when a buyer asks for them.
- 01We do not put a thread count on a brushed microfiber product — thread count is a woven-cotton measure and does not describe the fabric.
- 02We do not describe plain woven polyester as 'cooling' or 'breathable' without a test figure behind it.
- 03We do not certify a fabric we have not tested. If a test report exists for your fabric, we will send it; if it does not, we will say so.
- 04We do not apply a competitor's certification number or logo to your label, however similar the product looks.
Send us your market and your spec, and we will tell you what we can put in writing.
We will confirm which tests apply, which reports we can supply, and what the care label should say for your destination — before you place the order.
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