Home Textile Fabric Reference Sheet

Terry, Percale, Sateen, Muslin & Woven Fabric Types for Home Textile Buyers

Use this reference sheet when specifying fabric for home textile RFQs from Pakistan. Match construction type to product category, then confirm GSM, thread count, and certification requirements.

Terry Fabrics (Bath Linen)

Fabric	Construction	Typical GSM	Primary end use	Key markets
Terry (standard loop)	Warp pile, loop surface both sides	300–500 GSM	Bath towels, institutional towels	USA, EU, hospitality worldwide
Terry (velour)	Warp pile, sheared surface	350–550 GSM	Premium bath towels, beach towels	USA, EU, Middle East, luxury hotels
Terry (semi-velour)	One side loop, one side velour	380–500 GSM	Mixed hotel and retail towels	Hospitality, retail
Terry (dobby border)	Plain terry with woven border	350–500 GSM	Hotel towels, gift sets	EU, Middle East, retail
Waffle terry	Waffle-patterned loop base	250–350 GSM	Spa towels, kitchen towels	EU, UK, wellness sector
Micro-cotton	Ultra-fine loop pile (micro yarn)	400–550 GSM	Premium retail towels	USA, UK, Germany

Bed Linen Fabrics

Fabric	Weave	Thread count range	Typical GSM	Primary end use
Percale	Plain weave, balanced 1/1	200–400 TC	100–130 GSM	Crisp bedsheets, duvet covers — hotel and retail
Sateen	Satin weave, 4/1 float	300–600 TC	110–150 GSM	Soft-feel premium bedsheets — retail and luxury hotel
Cotton flannel	Plain or twill, brushed surface	n/a	150–200 GSM	Winter bedsheets — UK, Canada, Northern Europe
Linen-cotton blend	Plain weave	n/a	130–180 GSM	Premium bedsheets — UK, Scandinavia, Australia
Microfibre (polyester)	Ultra-fine polyester woven	100–400 GSM	Varies	Budget bedsheets — mass retail, hospitality value tier
Seersucker	Puckered woven stripe	n/a	100–130 GSM	Summer bedsheets — USA, EU

Kitchen & Table Linen Fabrics

Fabric	Construction	Typical GSM	Primary end use
Waffle weave (cotton)	Dobby/jacquard woven honeycomb	120–200 GSM	Kitchen towels, spa towels
Flat weave (plain cotton)	1/1 plain weave	80–150 GSM	Decorative kitchen towels, printed tea towels
Linen / linen-cotton	Plain or huck weave, flax fibre	150–250 GSM	Premium kitchen towels — UK, EU, Australia
Duck canvas (heavy cotton)	Plain weave, heavy yarn	280–380 GSM	Aprons, workwear kitchen linen
Damask	Jacquard reversible pattern	180–250 GSM	Table linen — tablecloths, napkins
Oxford weave	Basket weave	160–200 GSM	Table covers, placemats

Certification by Fabric Category

Fabric category	OEKO-TEX requirement	GOTS applicable?	ISO 9001 value
Baby home textiles (muslin, terry)	Class 1 (strictest) — mandatory EU/USA retail	Yes — if organic cotton claimed	High — for volume programmes
Hotel towels and bath linen	Standard 100 — strongly recommended	Optional	High — for volume hotel contracts
Retail bedsheets and duvet covers	Standard 100 — required for UK/EU/USA retail	Yes — if organic claimed	Medium
Kitchen and table linen	Standard 100 — required for food-contact textiles	Optional	Medium
Industrial linen (shop towels, fender covers)	Not typically required	No	Low

Thread Count vs GSM — Which to Specify?

Thread count (TC) applies only to woven fabrics — bedsheets, pillowcases, duvet covers. For these, specify thread count (e.g., 200 TC percale) and fibre content. For terry fabrics (towels, bathrobes, bath mats), specify GSM — thread count is not a useful metric for looped pile constructions. For kitchen linen and table linen, GSM is the standard specification.

Use this sheet when completing RFQ forms at mzglobaltrading.com/rfq/. Full home textile fabric guide at mzglobaltrading.com/knowledge/home-textile-fabric-guide/.

Disclaimer: This document is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, customs or compliance advice. Figures reflect common trade practice and are indicative — always verify against your buyer specification, applicable regulations and your destination market.