LuxClub Bamboo Sheets Class Action: Are They Really Bamboo?

LuxClub Inc., a popular bedding company known for its supposedly eco-friendly sheets, is facing heat from a customer lawsuit. The complaint, filed in the US District Court for the Eastern District of California on June 21, 2024, accuses LuxClub of misleading consumers with deceptive advertising about their bamboo sheets.

Lawsuit Claims "Eco-Friendly" Sheets Are Mostly Synthetic

California resident Andrea Guerrero alleges that LuxClub's bamboo sheets don't actually live up to their name. The lawsuit claims the sheets are primarily made from two materials: viscose, a rayon derivative of heavily processed bamboo, and microfiber, a synthetic polyester.

According to Guerrero's complaint, the bamboo undergoes significant processing to become viscose, essentially eliminating any trace of the original bamboo in the final product. The lawsuit goes further, arguing that bamboo itself can't be transformed into soft fabrics like bed sheets without resorting to harsh practices that harm the environment.

Guerrero says she was swayed by LuxClub's marketing claims of "Bamboo Sheets" and "Eco Friendly" labels, especially on sites like Amazon.com. These representations, the lawsuit argues, were a key factor in her decision to purchase the sheets at a premium price. 

"Based on the marketing," Guerrero's complaint states, "she believed she was buying eco-friendly bamboo sheets. This belief was important in her decision to buy them. Had she known the sheets were made from viscose and microfiber, and not eco-friendly, she wouldn't have purchased them, or she would have paid less."

Mixed Messages from LuxClub

The lawsuit acknowledges that LuxClub did remove the word "bamboo" from some online marketing materials after being contacted by Guerrero under California's Consumers Legal Remedies Act. However, Guerrero contends that LuxClub still promotes the sheets as "eco-friendly" despite the environmentally harmful processes involved in creating the viscose and microfiber components.

The deception claim lies in the disconnect between the product and its marketing. "Because the sheets aren't made from bamboo and aren't eco-friendly, their marketing is misleading," the lawsuit argues.

While LuxClub has removed some instances of "bamboo" from advertising, Guerrero's complaint highlights that the company's website title still uses the term ("The Internet's Favorite Bamboo Sheets") and product pages lack disclaimers about the actual fabric content.

The lawsuit cites the Federal Trade Commission's (FTC) guidelines for companies, urging them to avoid describing rayon blends as bamboo and to refrain from "eco-friendly" claims due to the environmental impact of rayon/viscose production. The lawsuit argues: "Thus, describing the sheets as ‘bamboo’ without disclosure is deceptive, even if LuxClub now admits the presence of microfiber in their products."

LuxClub isn't the only retailer facing legal trouble over its bedding claims. In May, Target was hit with a similar class action lawsuit alleging deceptive practices regarding the advertised thread count of its bed sheets. Specifically, Target is accused of inflating the thread counts of its brands, including Threshold, California Design Den, and Blue Nile Mills, misleading consumers about the quality of the sheets.

In the LuxClub bamboo sheets class action lawsuit, Guerrero's is seeking to represent all California residents who purchased LuxClub bed sheets online within the applicable legal timeframe. This could potentially encompass a large number of consumers who made purchases based on the allegedly misleading marketing practices.

Case Details

• Lawsuit: Guerrero v. LuxClub Inc.
• Case Number: 1:24-cv-00721-JLT-CDB
• Court: U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of California

Plaintiffs' Attorneys

• Aubry Wand (The Wand Law Firm P.C.)
• Benjamin Heikali, Ruhandy Glezakos, and Joshua Nassir (Treehouse Law LLP)