Today we hardly consider the significance of comfy and smooth bedsheets that we get to sleep on. Since they are so easily accessible and affordable, we fail to imagine that it was not always like that. There were times when ancient men, our ancestors used to sleep on the cold, hard ground. bedsheet industry of Pakistan is a good business all over the world.
Then they started piling up leaves and twigs and hay etc to form up a slightly more comfortable sleeping spot. Gradually with the formation of beds, accessories such as mattresses, bedsheets and pillows also came into being.
How the journey of the bedsheets industry of Pakistan went from mere cloth pieces to the luxurious double bedsheet of today is indeed intriguing. Let us delve into the history of bed sheets and find out.
History of Bedsheet Induatry of Pakistan:
The very first use of a bedsheet dates all the way back to the year 1000. An Egyptian man from Cairo, named Rashid Sab-Anah used a piece of cloth as a bedsheet. This cloth covering for his bed was made of very thick yarn and was very bulky. In short, it was not worth the time it took to wash it, dry it and iron it for it to be able to be used.
The real breakthrough of the bedsheet industry actually came with the use of linen to make bed sheets. The very first bed sheets made at an industrial level were made of linen. Back in the day, the process of preparing and weaving the linen fabric was very time consuming and tiresome but the end product was quite worth the hassle.
Sometimes bed sheets are even referred to as bed linens because linen was the first material to be used for bed sheets on a large scale and for a long time. Today this term is often even used for bedsheets made out of other materials rather than linen.
Though Egyptians were the ones to start the use of cloth covering for beds which ended up transforming into the bed sheets industry.
Europeans were truly the ones to make it more accessible and normalised and flourishing the bedsheet industry. It was following the industrial revolution that the bedsheet industry stepped down from the status of a luxury accessory reserved for the rich. Now, it started becoming accessible to the middle class and hence the use and demand grew widespread.
The technological advancements saw the weaving and production stages modernized. The process was made convenient with electrical machinery coming into being. Slowly the wonders of cotton got revealed as it was way easier to farm, grow and even process into fabric form.
Hence, gradually the new most commonly used material for bedsheets became cotton. To date, cotton is the most commonly and frequently used bed sheets material. Although the doors of experimentations and advances led people to produce bed sheets of silk, polyester, flannel, bamboo, percale microfibre etc. However, linen and cotton occupy the top usability spot today.
Springing from the European countries, the bedsheet industry grew to all corners of the planet, eventually coming to Asia too. Along with Pakistan, Asian countries like Nepal, Indonesia, India, Philipines, Vietnam, Bangladesh, Armenia and Bhutan are significant contributors to textiles exports. Textile materials and the bedsheet industry from Pakistan have a demand all over the world.
Pakistan today is among the leading textile exporters due to an ample amount of natural resources and raw materials available.
Quality And Exports of Bedsheets
The reason for Pakistan being a favourite for the purpose of textile imports is not just ample raw materials and natural resources. Pakistan also offers low prices for high-quality products like king-size double bed sheets, blankets, duvets, cushions, comforters pillows etc.
The foreign giant economies see a profitable and convenient market for textile imports in Pakistan. This is because in Pakistan the land and labour resources are given low wages which overall reduces the production costs. Despite the low production costs, the results delivered in end products are high quality.
The leading textile production companies and exporters in Pakistan are as follows.
Saleem Textile Bedsheet Industry:
Saleem textile company was founded in 1986 and today it is among the leading reputed bedding products manufacturers. This company is a member of the Pakistan Textile Exporters Association and also hold the ISO 9001:2008 certificate. It is a testimony of the company’s high-quality end products.
The company exports their products on an international level to Spain, Italy, Portugal, Singapore and Middle East countries.
The materials include linen, 100 per cent cotton or cotton mixed with polyester. The colour schemes could be in dyed or printed forms or pure white. The prices are varying depending on the specifications. Delivery time is anywhere between 60 to 75 days and the packaging is done in the form of individual polybags.
GTEX Source is the one of Bedsheet Industry of Pakistan
Another one among leading Pakistani textile manufacturers, the company is focused on the home textile market. The company does quality checks in all phases, pre-production phase, processing phase and weaving/ stitching phase.
The company provides high-quality end products at competitive prices and the customer service is said to be excellent. The company is also said to be eco friendly i.e they are an environmentally conscious and responsible company.
The export range of the company is worldwide including Europe, Asia, Africa and Middle East countries. The materials include cotton, linen, polyester-cotton, flannel and microfibre.
Colours can be pure, printed assorted or solid. Prices are competitive and delivery time ranges between 30 to 60 days depending on circumstances. The packaging is done in the form of vinyl zipper bags and a customised card inserted with each piece.
Al Rehmat Traders PVT Limited Bedsheet Industry
This textile company caters to the global market with exports. The importers include North America, South America, European Countries, United Kingdom, Middle East countries and fellow Asian countries. The company does quality checks at various stages and delivers woven and stitched end products.
The materials include all ranges and diversity but mostly 100 per cent cotton. The colour schemes can be either dyed, printed or bleached.
The prices are adequate and negotiable and delivery time is mostly 30 days though can vary upon different circumstances. The packaging is done as per the customer’s personal preferences and requirements.
Nishat Chunain Group
Nishat Chain is one of the largest textile manufacturers in Pakistan. It was founded in 1990 and by 2019 was amongst the top profitable organizations. In 2019, it had an annual turnover of about 40 billion Rupees. The Nishat company is also listed on Pakistan Stock Exchange.
The company is very prominent even globally and holds certificates from cotton USA, GOTS, Oeko Tex, Walmart compliant, Sedex, ISO 9001and BCSI.
The company delivers exceptional quality end products made through its state of the art machinery. All these specifications make it special and distinct from its competitors.
The export market is global including North America, South America, Europe, the Middle East and Africa. The products have high density with quality checks at every stage.
The company offers printed bedsheets with reactive rotary printing and 15 colours pigmentation. The printed fabrics also include three-dimensional prints in unlimited colours. Their unit price ranges from $3 to $8 per KG. These depend on specifications and can be negotiated upon contact.
The delivery time period matches the industry standard. Globally, this company is perfectly suitable for large businesses and importers.
Sapphire Fabrics Limited for Bedsheet Industry of Pakistan
Sapphire Fabrics is another gigantic contributor to the textile and bedding manufacturer market in Pakistan. The company is vertically integrated and produces cotton yarn too along with normal fabric and garments. It was originated in 1979 and is one of the listed companies on the Pakistan Stock exchange.
It has an ample amount of advanced machinery including 92 knittings, 282 stitching and 9 fabric dyeing machines along with 99,024 spindles. The company has certifications from GOTS, FLO CERT, Oeko Tex, WRAP and SUPIMA.
These are enough as a testament to the company’s premium quality end products. The price range is between $3 to $8 per KG and negotiable depending on specifications and circumstances.
The delivery time period matches industry standards and the delivery range is globally extensive spanning over four major continents. Terms and conditions are industry-standard too and further information can be obtained through direct contact with the company’s representatives.
Aziz Sons
Aziz sons were originated in the early 1980s and adhere to high-quality exports at competitive prices. Their export range includes Europe, the United States, United Arab Emirates, Netherlands, Italy, Sweden and Germany. The company contains state of the art advanced machinery and is entirely vertically integrated.
The company possesses certifications from Sedex, Oeko Tex and BSCI. Their monthly production includes an impressive bed sheet set quantity of 1 crore pieces per month.
The company has not made many details public relating to prices and delivery. However, competitive prices are said to be their trademark and a high range and diversity of material and designs are expected.
The delivery time period will be in adherence to the industry standard. Packaging details and other relevant information can be availed through direct contact with any of the company’s representatives.
Prominent Market Trends
Linen Exports
Linen export is on the high rise of demand. The linen can either be made of a single yarn or multiple yarns. Both kinds are rising in export demand especially since the year 2016.
The major export destinations include the United States, United Kingdom, France, Germany and Netherlands. Within Pakistan, the major linen producing markets exist in almost all major cities including Lahore, Karachi, Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Multan and Sialkot.
Rising Flooring Demands
The textile materials are not only limited to fabrics and garments. With infrastructure advancements, the need for insulation is becoming essential to customers.
The China Pakistan Economic Corridor Development project is also a significant contributor to the rise in the demand for flooring. Laminate flooring is the most eco friendly, neat and healthiest flooring option around. It fulfils global standards of the health and care industry with its low formaldehyde emission levels.
The flooring demand is more globally focused rather than locally and brings in great exporting profits.
Competitive Market Landscape
With the emergence of numerous big and little, branded or unbranded textile manufacturers, the market has grown over competitive.
The companies offer competitive prices with high and excellent quality end products to gain the customers’ trust and profits. The companies also improve specifications, expanding ranges and organize sales to keep their place in today’s overly competitive textile and garment industry.
Challenges And Growth Restraints
Travelling Restriction And The Pandemic
Needless to say, the pandemic and consequent travelling restrictions have affected the textile and garment industry just as every other sphere of life. Since travelling and exports are affected, naturally the industry has suffered and experienced numerous setbacks.
The supply-demand chain has drastically been altered worldwide and the effects and consequences are felt globally, including in Pakistan.
Local Law And Order Situation
As far as law and order, safety and security and the global image are concerned, Pakistan has been set back for a long now. While people may fancy and select a bedsheet industry design online, large businesses and companies need quality proof before doing business.
Since the exporter representatives are not travelling to Pakistan owing to security reasons, the market has been affected and suffering. When the pandemic travelling restrictions allow, the exporter representatives prefer to travel to safer and more hospitable regions.
Rise Of An Environmentally Conscious Audience
The emergence of eco friendly, environmentally conscious, green lover public has seen a transformation in many spheres of life. People eat not only vegetarian but purely vegan foods. People don’t wear fur or similar products relating to animal cruelty.
Similarly, people are boycotting natural resources killing companies and businesses. People prefer natural, sustainable, recyclable and organic products. Thus, a hindrance and opposition in fabric prepared from microfibre materials are seen. Plus, some other harmfully prepared products like bamboo bed sheets are often boycotted.