Giza Cotton Update: What Luxury Sheet Buyers Need to Know

Dear Valued Client,

Thank you so much for being part of the Fine Linen and Bath family. We truly appreciate your patronage as well as the trust you place in us and in our products.

With that in mind, we are once again writing to clarify an issue that periodically emerges in our business: the authenticity of Giza cotton. As a savvy home textiles shopper, you are likely aware that the name Giza Egyptian Cotton signifies luxury, quality, and beauty. Fine sheets, bedding, and towels crafted from Giza cotton stand-alone for superior softness, longevity, and style.

Unfortunately, many mid-market, discount, and no-name manufacturers are representing their home linens as made from "Giza" cotton when, in reality, they are substandard. Here are a few things to keep in mind as you shop for Giza bedding and bath linens.

What Makes Genuine Giza Cotton Different

Where Real Giza Cotton Comes From: The Egyptian Cotton Region

For centuries, genuine Giza Egyptian cotton has grown only in one place on Earth: outside Cairo in the Giza valley in the Nile River Delta, where nutrient-rich soil and humidity provide ideal growing conditions. In recent years, there have been widespread reports of Giza cotton seeds being removed from the Nile Delta and – without authorization or quality control -- being planted and harvested in other countries. Genuine Giza cotton is grown only in the Giza region under rigorous quality control. A textile product made from cotton grown anywhere outside this small area in Egypt is not true Giza cotton.

How Giza Cotton is Harvested: The Quality Difference in Egyptian Cotton Sheets

Giza Egyptian cotton is harvested by hand, never by machine. This is done to preserve the length of individual cotton fibers, or "staples," which could be arbitrarily cut by blades during mechanical harvesting. Fine Giza cotton is either "long-staple" (LS) or "extra-long-staple," (ELS). The staple or fiber length directly correlates to the softness, strength, and smooth texture of the cotton. Genuine Giza cotton home textiles will be made with either LS or ELS cotton.

100% Giza Cotton vs Blends: What to Look for in Premium Sheets

When an item is marketed as Giza cotton, one might think that it is made from 100 percent Giza cotton. However, this is not always the case. If a bed sheet, towel, or other home textile is made with more than 50 percent Giza cotton, manufacturers may use the Giza cotton label. Read the fabric content label so you can be assured you are purchasing items made with only the finest cotton, 100 percent Giza Egyptian cotton.

Giza Cotton Strains: From Numbers to Staple Length

Giza cotton comes in different grades, and was historically labeled with the year the cotton strain was hybridized (example: Giza 87, Giza 92). While some manufacturers will still use this terminology to distinguish cotton variety, most are moving to labeling Giza cotton as long staple cotton (LS) or extra long staple cotton (ELS), with ELS cotton being distinguished by added length and uniformity of the fibers. The exception to this is Giza 45. Known as “The Queen of Egyptian Cotton,” Giza 45 is the longest of all extra-long-staple cotton with fibers of outstanding uniformity and fineness. Giza 45 is rare, representing just half of one percent of all Egyptian cotton grown annually. You can browse SFERRA’s Giza 45 Bedding Collection on our website.

How to Buy Authentic Giza Cotton Sheet Set: A Buyer's Guide

Reputation Matters: Choosing Trusted Manufacturers

Here at Fine Linen and Bath, we carry Giza Egyptian cotton products from the finest home textile manufacturers on Earth. Any reputable manufacturer will be proud to share the origin of their Giza cotton and know precisely how the fabric is grown, harvested, woven, and assembled.

The Manufacturing Process: A Glimpse into Quality Control 

To place this in context, here are a few images from my 2023 visit to the Abyss & Habidecor and Celso de Lemos factories in Portugal, where I was able to watch how Giza cotton thread is woven into fabric and sewn into sheet sets, bedding, and towels.

The goal for weaving cotton is to "keep the staple," that is, to protect the integrity of the long fibers for the extra softness. While other companies may outsource this process, Abyss weaves their own cotton thread by setting dozens of the bobbin up on a machine that pulls them together into a large bolt of thread. To minimize waste, there is a special formula used to calculate exactly how much thread is needed. Weaving the cotton in small batches ensures maximum quality control.

Benefits of Giza Cotton: Why Giza Sheets are Worth It

Softness, Breathability, and Longevity

As you shop for luxury bed sheets and bath towels, keep in mind that Genuine Giza cotton is a rare commodity grown under highly specific conditions in a designated region. It is known for being soft, breathable, and beautiful, which is why luxury linen manufacturers – including SFERRA, Matouk, Abyss & Habidecor, Celso de Lemos, and Graccioza, among others – showcase Giza in their collections. Genuine Egyptian cotton home textiles are made with care to exacting standards; they are meant to be heirloom linens that will endure for years. 

How to Spot Fake Giza Cotton: What to Avoid

You will never find genuine high-quality Giza cotton sheets, bedding, or bath linen sold in discount stores, big box retailers, mid-market chains, or on television infomercials.

I hope this clarifies any questions you may have about Giza cotton. Please feel free to contact us with any inquiries or concerns. Our design team is here to help you choose your perfect Giza Egyptian cotton sheets, bedding, and bath linens.

Kind regards,

Erika Smith, Brand Manager

P.S. From time to time, we get a question about washing Giza sheets. The good news is, you can machine wash Giza cotton sheets. We recommend using a gentle detergent formulated to clean and care for fine fabric like Heritage Park All-Purpose Laundry Detergent (available on our website). Wash fitted sheets, flat sheets, and pillowcases together in a dedicated load, sorted by color. If you sleep on just a fitted sheet with a duvet cover, wash the duvet cover and shams at the same time. Use warm water and a regular cycle and don’t overload your machine past the recommended level. If your Giza sheets have delicate detail work on them, consider using a mesh garment bag. Never use fabric softener or bleach. Percale sheets may require a light iron to remove wrinkles. Following these guidelines will keep your Giza sheets beautiful and help retain their essence of comfort and durability, night after night.