Lawsuits Over Egyptian Cotton Sheets
Last Updated on October 25, 2019
Important Information
Attorneys working with ClassAction.org are no longer investigating this matter. The information here is for reference only. A list of open investigations and lawsuits can be viewed here.
Case Update
October 25, 2019
A settlement has been reached and is looking to compensate those who bought cotton products labeled as "Egyptian Cotton" or "Pima Cotton" from one of several retailers including Amazon and Target. Head over to the settlement site for the details.
At A Glance
- This Alert Affects
- Anyone who purchased certain brand-name sheets advertised as "Egyptian cotton" or "100% Egyptian cotton."
- What's Going On?
- Allegations have surfaced that Welspun, an overseas textile manufacturer, advertised its sheets as Egyptian cotton when, in reality, they were made with a cheaper, inferior fabric.
- What Brands Are Affected?
- Fieldcrest, Crowning Touch, Perfect Touch, Ralph Lauren, Waverly, Charter Club, Cannon, Royal Velvet, Nautica, Nicole Miller, Umbra, Chaps and Jennifer Lopez brands.
It is believed that some of these sheets were actually made with Indian cotton, an inferior material that sells for 40-50% less than Egyptian cotton. As a result, consumers are alleging that they paid too much for a product that was falsely advertised. The allegedly affected products include sheets that were advertised as “Egyptian Cotton” and sold under one of the following brand names:
- Fieldcrest
- Crowning Touch
- Perfect Touch
- Ralph Lauren
- Waverly
- Charter Club
- Cannon
- Royal Velvet
- Nautica
- Nicole Miller
- Umbra
- Chaps
- Jennifer Lopez
The Egyptian Cotton Sheets Controversy: What Happened?
In late August 2016, Target announced that it would be severing its relationship with Welspun Indian Ltd. after an internal investigation found that the textile manufacturer was selling fake Egyptian cotton sheets. Following this announcement, a number of other retailers, including Walmart and Bed Bath & Beyond, announced that they too would be investigating whether the “Egyptian cotton” sheets they received from Welspun were authentic. Shortly thereafter, the first lawsuits were filed.
Reportedly, a shortage of Egyptian cotton has pressured some manufacturers to blend the high-quality fabric with other types of cotton without disclosing this to their customers. It is believed that the brands affected by the Welspun cotton scandal were sold by a number of retailers, including Target, Walmart, Bed Bath and Beyond, Kohls, Macy’s, Kmart and J.C. Penny.
Has Anyone Recalled the Sheets?
Target announced that it would be pulling the products from their shelves. Shortly thereafter, Bed Bath Beyond and Walmart also recalled the sheets.
What Are the Lawsuits Saying?
The lawsuits allege that Welspun broke federal and state laws. They accuse the company of deception, fraud and misrepresentation and allege that:
- Consumers paid for a product that was not what it represented to be
- Consumers paid for a product that cost much less than the premium price they paid
- Welspun profited from selling a fraudulent product to unsuspecting consumers
According to the lawsuits, Welspun admitted, in regard to the cotton sheet controversy, that “[w]ithout any ambiguity, the fault is on our side.”
How a Lawsuit Can Help
A lawsuit could help consumers get refunds for the sheets they purchased and discourage companies from selling falsely labeled Egyptian cotton sheets.
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