Macy’s bedding supplier under scrutiny

A supplier of bedding to Macy’s is under scrutiny in Texas after a report suggested it misled consumers about the quality of one of its products.

Sunham Home Fashions markets its four-piece Barrett Collection queen sheet set as having a 1,400-thread count. Yet a third-party test commissioned by the state’s Agriculture Department found it has a thread count of 505, “which constitutes a materially false, misleading or deceptive act or practice,” the agency said in a July 25 letter.

“TDA has determined the distributor, manufacturer and retailer may have engaged in deceptive acts and practices within the State of Texas,” according to the letter sent to Sunham’s New York office, Sunham Bedding Ltd., and Macy’s, and obtained by Bloomberg.

Thread count is the term for how many threads are in each square inch of material. Broadly speaking, the higher the count, the softer and more pricey the sheets.

Sunham President Jane Bognacki initially said she would speak with a reporter, but then didn’t respond to subsequent voice mails or emails. Macy’s declined to comment.

As of Monday, Macy’s was still offering the Barrett Collection sheet set, which is made of a cotton and polyester mix. The queen-size set has a list price of $200 on the retailer’s website, though a sale and extra discounting brought the price to $55.99. The package back says the set is made in India.