Welspun Cheats on Egyptian Cotton in Bedsheets, Wal Mart and Target
Cancel Export Orders
(A case for Investigation by Commerce Ministry?)
Welspun
India slid as much as 5 per cent in Mumbai trading after Wal-Mart Stores Inc.
stopped selling the supplier’s Egyptian-cotton sheets over concerns that the
products’ origins may be mislabeled.
The world’s largest retailer said on Friday that Welspun wasn’t able to assure that the sheets are 100 per
cent Egyptian cotton.
Welspun’s
market value has dropped by about half since the controversy erupted August 19,
when Target Corp. cut ties with the Indian vendor after discovering sheets and
pillowcases that were labeled as premium Egyptian cotton were made with cheaper
fiber. Unlike Target, Wal-Mart said it wouldn’t end all business with Welspun.
Wal-Mart’s move is a further blow to Mumbai-based Welspun’s image, as other household-name customers,
including Bed Bath & Beyond Inc., and J.C. Penny Co. also review the
authenticity of its products. The affected goods represent about 6 per cent of Welspun’s total business, the Indian manufacturer founded
by Balkrishan Goenka said
Saturday.
Customers often pay a premium for Egyptian-cotton
products because they are perceived to be softer and more durable. Sheets made
from cotton grown in other countries don’t always carry the same cachet among
Americans.
Wal-Mart sold the Welspun
sheets and pillow cases under the names Better Homes & Gardens and Canopy.
The company will offer refunds to customers who have purchased the sheets.
Throughout
the past three centuries, Egyptian cotton has prevailed as one of Egypt’s
biggest competitive advantages. Its softness, strength and superior
characteristics, have positioned products made of Egyptian cotton as the world’s finest.
The length of the fibre makes it possible to make the
finest of yarns without sacrificing the strength of the yarn
The strength of the fiber makes fabrics more solid and
more resistant to stress
Its ability to absorb liquids gives fabrics made of
Egyptian cotton deeper, brighter and more resistant colours
Its softness feels like nothing else in the world
Egyptian cotton is hand picked
which guarantees the highest levels of purity. In addition, hand picking puts
no stress on the fibres - as opposed to mechanical
picking - leaving the fibers straight and intact.
All these factors have resulted in the Egyptian cotton
being by far the best cotton in the world. Fabrics made of Egyptian Cotton are softer, finer and last longer than any other
cotton in the world.
The thread count is the number of threads in each
square inch and generally speaking, the higher the thread count, the more
luxurious, dense and soft the material will feel. The quality of the yarn is
also very important in the feel of the product, so thread count alone does not
always tell the whole story.
120-180
Thread Count | This range is most suitable for
rentals and basic domestic use, the type often found in hospitals, and
certainly good for a spare room and where the usage calls for material of a
more basic nature.
800
– 1000 Thread Count |
Ultimate Luxury, pure indulgence, a step above the 600 Thread Count with an
even greater lustre and a fuller fabric. This is an amazingly robust yet silky
weave and will always be considered to be very beautiful bed linen even after
many, many years