Home textile fabric from Pakistan — terry (300–700 GSM, 140–160 cm width for towels and bathrobes), percale (80–130 GSM, up to 310 cm width for seam-free flat sheets), sateen (90–150 GSM, 4/1 satin weave for premium bed linen), waffle weave (120–200 GSM for kitchen towels and bathrobes), and jacquard (180–300 GSM for table covers and bed sets) — is produced in Pakistan's vertically integrated mills in Karachi and Faisalabad, the same supply base that exports finished towels and bed linen globally. Width is the critical specification for bed linen fabric: a King flat sheet (USA) requires minimum 280 cm fabric width for seam-free cutting; Super King (UK) requires 310 cm; Faisalabad's wide-width looms produce up to 310 cm in percale and sateen. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Class 1 scope applies for terry intended for baby hooded towels and infant bath products; Class 2 or general-use scope for adult bath textiles; GOTS chain-of-custody transaction certificates are required per shipment for any organic cotton claim.
Step 1 — Fabric Category and Construction
| Fabric | Construction | GSM | Width | Application |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Terry (for towels) | Loop pile on ground weave | 300–700 GSM | 140–160 cm | Bath, hand, beach towels |
| Percale (for bed linen) | Plain weave, 60s–100s yarn | 80–130 GSM | 240–280 cm | Flat sheets, pillowcases |
| Sateen (for bed linen) | 4/1 satin weave on cotton | 90–150 GSM | 240–280 cm | Premium sheets, duvet covers |
| Waffle weave (kitchen/bath) | Dobby loom grid | 120–200 GSM | 140–160 cm | Kitchen towels, bathrobes |
| Jacquard (table/bed linen) | Programmable loom pattern | 180–300 GSM | 140–300 cm | Table covers, bed sets |
Step 2 — Terry Fabric Specification
Terry is the most technically complex home textile fabric construction. Key specification parameters: GSM (determines pile height and loop density), loop height (specify in mm — affects absorbency and plush feel), pile percentage (% of total weight in pile vs ground — higher pile % = better absorbency), ground weave yarn count (affects base fabric strength), and loop stability (measure by pilling and snagging resistance tests).
Step 3 — Bed Linen Fabric: Width Requirement
Bed linen fabric must be wide enough to cut a full sheet without a seam — the critical width requirement. Minimum widths for seam-free cutting: King flat sheet (USA): 280+ cm wide fabric. Super King (UK): 310+ cm. Queen flat sheet (USA): 250+ cm. Double (UK/EU): 230+ cm. Wide-width looms in Faisalabad produce up to 310 cm width in percale and sateen — specify required width before ordering.
Step 4 — Quality Parameters for Home Textile Fabric
Terry: GSM tolerance ±5%, loop height ±0.5 mm, shrinkage ≤5% after 5 × 60°C washes, tear strength minimum 40N warp/35N weft, colour fastness ≥3.5 Grey Scale washing at 60°C. Percale/sateen: thread count tolerance ±5%, shrinkage ≤2% after 3 × 40°C wash, colour fastness ≥4 Grey Scale for perspiration and light, pilling resistance ≥4 (Martindale 5,000 rubs).
Step 5 — Certification and Minimum Order Quantity
OEKO-TEX Standard 100: factory and colour must be within scope. For terry: Class 1 scope if the finished towel is intended for babies; Class 2 or general use scope for adult towels. GOTS for organic cotton terry, percale and sateen. BCI for Better Cotton claim. MOQ for solid-colour terry: typically 500 m per colour for standard mill run; 2,000 m for custom loop-height or composition variants. Percale/sateen MOQ: 1,000 m per colour typically. Lead time: 4–8 weeks for dyed fabric. Specify certification requirements in the sourcing quote form.
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Disclaimer: This content is provided for general information only and does not constitute legal, customs or compliance advice. Always verify requirements against your buyer specification, applicable regulations and your destination market before making commercial decisions.