One Art in Choosing the Perfect Bed Sheet: Insights from a Luxury Hotels Supplier

One Art in Choosing the Perfect Bed Sheet: Insights from a Luxury Hotels Supplier

Tuesday, 18th of June, 2024

The everyday consumer's common buying habit when it comes to bed sheets, would perhaps be simply walking into a department store, picking a beautiful printed sheet, by just touching and feeling the material.

But how do hotels pick sheets for guests? Are sheets in hotels special? What makes a hotel bed sheet different?

These are all questions that we hope to shed light on in and endeavour to help you find some of the best sheets on the market.

When choosing a bed sheet a number of technical factors come into play, that can alter the look, feel, and experience of the sleeper.

For now, we'll look at just two:

  1. Cotton vs Polyester-Cotton (Polycotton)
  2. Thread Counts

So what's the difference between Cotton and Polycotton, and why does it matter?

Well, to put it simply, a 100% cotton bed sheet is cooler than a polyester-cotton mixed bed sheet.

That means, in a bedroom setting that is not quite cool, a 100% cotton bed sheet would likely be a better option to purchase, than a polyester-cotton bed sheet.

However that said, a polyester-cotton bed sheet may appear neater to the eye, and potentially make the bed and bedding look more higher in quality.

Hotels invest in both options. They both have a balance of feel vs look, and from the right supplier or brand, can both be exceptional pieces of bedding.

So then what's thread count? And why does that matter?

Thread Count or commonly abbreviated as TC, is the number of threads woven into a single square inch of fabric.

To give it perspective, a fabric with a higher TC would be thicker and heavier than a fabric that is lower in thread count.

Now, does that mean a fabric that is higher in TC is essentially better in quality?

Absolutely not. A 300 TC sheet from a good manufacturer could be a better choice than a 1000 TC sheet from a not so good manufacturer,

In other words, when trying to measure a fabric's comfort, it's softness, or breathability, thread count would not be measure that can tell you this.

So a fabric's quality of threads, what they're made of and so on, matter, than simply the number of threads in a square inch.

So what should you choose?

"Gentelle Hotel Supplies Co Ltd" - One of the top hotel suppliers for bed and bath linens in Saudi Arabia, supplies hotels with sheets in different configurations including the following:

  1. 300 TC 100% Cotton Sheet
  2. 250 TC Polyester Cotton Sheet

For hotel procurement teams, buying offices, hospitality CEOs, or anyone with a requirement for premium linens, these are two options that can likewise be considered. Yet, again, the quality of threads do matter, and reaching out to Gentelle's team for expert advise, could be starting point for obtaining some hotel linen buying insights, even if you're not planning on making any immediate purchases.

What is GSM in Fabrics: Understanding Fabric GSM for Making Informed Purchases

What is GSM in Fabrics: Understanding Fabric GSM for Making Informed Purchases

Monday, 22nd of January, 2024

WHAT

WHAT
IS GSM
IN FABRICS

IS GSM

Summary: GSM, or grams per square meter (as it stands for), measures the weight of fabric. The GSM metric helps decision-makers in choosing the right fabrics on a use-case basis, allowing for smarter procurement choices.

#WhatIsFabricGSM #TowelGuide

what-is-fabrics-in-gsm-towel-picture

is GSM
in Fabrics

in Fabrics

Understanding Fabric GSM for Making Informed Purchases

In the world of textiles, consumers who come across the GSM tag, may grapple with deciphering the label when shopping for clothing or linens. So let's delve into what GSM in fabrics really means. So what is GSM in fabrics?

GSM, or grams per square meter, is a metric measurement defining the weight of a fabric. This measurement aids decision makers in making intelligent procurement decisions when selecting fabrics, due to the multiple types of uses.

"The higher the GSM number, the denser the fabric becomes."

The higher the GSM number, the denser the fabric becomes. For instance, a piece of clothing in the range of 180-200 GSM implies a thick material suitable for cooler temperatures (depending on the geographic location). Conversely, a shirt in the range of 130-150 GSM could be much airier and perhaps more suitable for warmer days, offering a lighter and more breathable feel.

For businesses looking to procure more budget-friendly options like promotional shirts for example, might choose a shirt in the range of 100-110 GSM, acknowledging their limited usage.

This principle extends to towels, upholstery linens, and various clothing items used in different seasons.

Here's a simple categorized breakdown of fabric GSMs to enhance clarity:

Light Weight Fabrics

Chiffon, linen, organza, cheesecloth, lace, voile, mesh.

Medium Weight Fabrics

Face towels, hand towels, bath towels, pool towels, sateen, oxford, velvet, taffeta, charmeuse

Heavy Weight Fabrics

Face towels, hand towels, bath towels, pool towels, upholstery fabric, canvas, brocade, poplin, denim

"Does GSM impact the price tag? Absolutely. Because Fabrics with higher grams per square meter (GSM) require more raw materials in production."

Therefore, when assessing the GSM value, it's crucial to consider the intended purpose of the purchase.

Now, let's tackle a crucial question: Does GSM impact the price tag?Absolutely.

Because Fabrics with higher grams per square meter (GSM) require more raw materials in production. And is why a 210gsm luxury linen shirt could command a higher price than its 130gsm beach shirt counterpart.

gsm-chart-price-vs-weight-vs-product

Also, a fabric that is thicker (higher GSM) does also mean that the durability of the material increases. Heavier fabrics are built to withstand the rigors of washing, drying, and regular wear.

fabrics-gsm

Which is why when hotels purchase towels for example, an intelligent buying decision they can make is to purchase towels at a higher GSM. Reputed hotels put their towels through industrial wash cycles after use, thereby requiring products that can withstand longer use. This in return impacting the hotel's profitability on the balance sheet.

While metric measurements like GSM are very common for fabric weight assessments, some parties prefer to express weight in ounces per square yard, known as Imperial weights (oz/yd2).

Whichever the measurement, when making intelligent procurement decisions, always understand the use-case of the fabric, and it's durability. At the same time, not every fabric has to be of a huge GSM number for it to be good.

To make it clear, a 900 GSM fabric would probably be a terrible choice as a towel. But could be a pretty good choice as a bathmat instead.