fabrics
the towel dictionary.
Every towel is two decisions: the fibre it’s spun from and the way it’s woven. Here’s the whole family, the good bits and the small print, including the ones we don’t sell.
the weaves
same cotton, very different towels.
The same cotton can be a plush bath sheet or a paper-thin beach towel. It comes down to the loops, or the lack of them. Explore nine fabric textures up close, from the fine threads to the finished surface.
Fine loops. Soft, springy depth.AI fabric study 01
terry
plush, familiar
Loops of yarn stand up from a woven base on both faces. The longer and denser the loops, the more water the towel holds. Plush and familiar. Heavier terry drinks more but dries more slowly.
- thirsty
- 4 out of 5
- quick-dry
- 2 out of 5
- soft
- 4 out of 5
- weight
- 300–900 gsm
Open cotton fibres. A fuller pile.AI fabric study 02
zero-twist terry
cloud-soft
The cotton is spun with a dissolvable thread, which is washed out after weaving. The loops are left with almost no twist, so they open right up. Cloud-soft and very thirsty. A little more delicate than classic terry in a hot wash.
- thirsty
- 5 out of 5
- quick-dry
- 2 out of 5
- soft
- 5 out of 5
- weight
- 500–750 gsm
bestafter the shower
Small woven cells. A closed cotton base.AI fabric study 03
waffle
light, quick-dry
Floating yarns form a grid of little pockets around a flat centre. The pockets hold water while the thin base lets air through. Light and textured rather than plush. Dries fast, which is why it is the texture of the moment.
- thirsty
- 3 out of 5
- quick-dry
- 4 out of 5
- soft
- 3 out of 5
- weight
- 300–450 gsm
Interlaced threads. A thin, loop-free surface.AI fabric study 04
flat-weave
sand shakes off
A flat, loop-free weave: the way Turkish peshtemals are made, and India’s own thorthu from Kerala and gamcha from Bengal. Thin, soft with use and quick to dry. Folds to the size of a paperback.
- thirsty
- 3 out of 5
- quick-dry
- 5 out of 5
- soft
- 3 out of 5
- weight
- 200–400 gsm
A sheared face. Loops on the reverse.AI fabric study 05
velour
smooth, velvety
Terry with the loops sheared off on one face, which leaves a smooth, velvety side and loops on the back. Luxe and smooth. The sheared face absorbs a little less, so the loop side does the drying.
- thirsty
- 3 out of 5
- quick-dry
- 3 out of 5
- soft
- 4 out of 5
- weight
- 400–600 gsm
bestafter the beach
Fine gauze layers. Naturally crinkled.AI fabric study 06
muslin
gentle, airy
Loose, gauzy plain weave, layered two to six times and left crinkly. Very soft and gets softer with every wash. Dries in no time.
- thirsty
- 3 out of 5
- quick-dry
- 5 out of 5
- soft
- 4 out of 5
- weight
- light, 2–6 layers
Short yarn floats. A subtle pebbled texture.AI fabric study 07
huckaback
lint-free
A pebbled, bird’s-eye weave with loose floating threads, woven in cotton, linen or both. The classic glass-cloth weave. Crisp, lint-free and quick to dry. Made for glasses and guest hand towels.
- thirsty
- 3 out of 5
- quick-dry
- 4 out of 5
- soft
- 2 out of 5
- weight
- light
bestafter the dishes
Suede finish. An exceptionally fine nap.AI fabric study 08
microfibre
fastest to dry
Ultra-fine split polyester and polyamide, finished either flat and smooth (suede) or with a knitted pile (plush). Light and the fastest to dry. Suede sheds sand and grips a yoga mat; plush is cushy.
- thirsty
- 4 out of 5
- quick-dry
- 5 out of 5
- soft
- 3 out of 5
- weight
- suede light, plush 400–600
Flax slubs. Character in every thread.AI fabric study 09
linen weave
crisp, never musty
A plain weave in flax. The fibre is long and hollow, so it wicks water quickly and lets it go just as fast. Crisp at first, softer every wash. Lint-free and very long-lived.
- thirsty
- 4 out of 5
- quick-dry
- 5 out of 5
- soft
- 2 out of 5
- weight
- 200–350 gsm
the trade-off
thirsty or quick-dry? pick your after.
The loops that hold the most water are the slowest to let it go. Tap a weave to see where it sits.
terry Plush and familiar. Heavier terry drinks more but dries more slowly.
the fibres
meet the fibres.
What each fibre is, where it shines and the small print. Tap one to open it. ₹ to ₹₹₹ is how it tends to be priced.
cottonAbsorbent, easy care, everyday towels of every kind.₹
what it is
Everyday upland cotton, about nine in ten of the world’s cotton. Combed, ring-spun yarn is the hotel standard; open-end yarn is the budget grade.
watch for
Quality comes from the yarn, not the word cotton. We use combed, ring-spun yarn.
long-staple cottonSoft, lustrous bath towels that shed less lint and last longer.₹₹₹
what it is
Cotton with long fibres, such as Egyptian (Giza), Pima and Supima. Longer fibres spin into smoother, stronger yarn.
watch for
Egyptian cotton is often faked. We will only use the word Egyptian or Supima with a licence and DNA-tested fibre behind it.
in our range
Turkish cottonSoft, absorbent beach and bath towels.₹₹
what it is
Cotton grown around Turkey’s Aegean coast, famous for peshtemal flat-weaves.
watch for
Its quick-dry fame comes from the flat weave, not the fibre. And in India a “Turkish towel” usually means ordinary terry, so we call ours what it is: a flat-weave.
in our range
Not yet. We’ve left it here so you can compare.
organic cottonBaby towels and anyone who wants verified growing.₹₹
what it is
Cotton grown without synthetic pesticides, fertilisers or GM seed. GOTS certification covers the whole chain, from farm to finished towel.
watch for
It feels the same as conventional cotton of the same yarn. Look for GOTS: organic certificate fraud has been found before.
in our range
Not yet. We’ve left it here so you can compare.
bamboo viscoseSilky softness and a heavy, fluid drape. Lovely bath towels and baby towels.₹₹
what it is
Bamboo pulp dissolved and spun into a rayon (viscose) fibre, usually blended with cotton. Bamboo lyocell is the cleaner, closed-loop version.
watch for
Legally it is rayon, so we label it viscose from bamboo. Regulators say it keeps none of the plant’s antibacterial properties, and we won’t claim any. Wash cool, dry low.
in our range
lyocell & modalSmooth, cool towels and hair wraps; a growing, lower-impact choice.₹₹₹
what it is
Tree-based fibres such as TENCEL™. Lyocell is made in a closed loop that recovers its solvent; modal holds its shape when wet.
watch for
Still a rayon family fibre. The fibre soaks up moisture from the air well, which is not the same as holding more bath water.
in our range
Not yet. We’ve left it here so you can compare.
linenLint-free glass cloths, fast-drying bath and travel towels, humid monsoon months.₹₹₹
what it is
Fibre from the stalk of the flax plant: long, strong and hollow.
watch for
Never plush. It creases and costs more, and it is at its best after a few washes.
in our range
hempHard-wearing kitchen and gym towels.₹₹₹
what it is
A strong bast fibre, usually blended with cotton for towels.
watch for
Stiff when new and in short supply. Claims about extra absorbency come from sellers, not tests.
in our range
Not yet. We’ve left it here so you can compare.
microfibreGym, yoga, swim and travel: light, compact and the fastest to dry.₹
what it is
Synthetic fibre finer than one denier, usually polyester with polyamide.
watch for
It sheds microplastics in the wash, so we suggest a filter bag. Skip fabric softener; it clogs the fibres.
in our range
recycled cottonKitchen and gym towels with a circular story.₹
what it is
Cotton waste shredded and re-spun, blended with new fibre for strength.
watch for
Shorter fibres make a slightly rougher, weaker towel that sheds more at first.
in our range
Not yet. We’ve left it here so you can compare.
weight, in GSM
heavier isn’t always better.
GSM is grams per square metre. More GSM means a denser, thirstier towel, and a slower one to dry, which matters in a humid July.
| GSM | Feels | Usually | Best for |
|---|---|---|---|
| under 300 | Light and thin | Flat-weave, muslin, linen, huckaback | Beach, travel, kitchen, humid days |
| 300–400 | Light, quick to dry | Light terry, waffle | Gym, swim, hand towels, the monsoon |
| 400–600 | Medium, everyday | Terry, bamboo blends, velour | Daily bath towels |
| 600–900 | Plush and heavy | Dense or zero-twist terry | Slow mornings. Slow to dry on humid days |
standard sizes
from face towel to full-body hug.
The common sizes as they are sold in India, drawn to scale. Brands vary by a few centimetres either way.
| Towel | Size (cm) | For |
|---|---|---|
| Face towel | 30 × 30 | Face washing. Often sold as a “napkin” |
| Hair wrap | 25 × 65 | Wrapped, buttoned, done |
| Hand towel | 40 × 60 | Hands, the powder room, the gym bag |
| Tea towel | 45 × 60 to 50 × 70 | Glasses, plates and hands |
| Gym towel | 40 × 80 | Bench and treadmill sweat |
| Hooded baby | 70 × 70 to 90 × 90 | Newborn to about six |
| Bath towel | 70 × 140 | The everyday after-shower wrap |
| Large bath | 75 × 150 | India’s most common big towel |
| Yoga mat towel | 61 × 183 | Laid over a standard mat |
| Bath sheet | 90 × 180 | Full wrap. Also sold as XL or beach |
honest labels
what we will, and won’t, say.
bamboo is viscose.
Bamboo towels are rayon made from bamboo pulp. We label ours “viscose from bamboo”, the name textile regulators use, and we never call it antibacterial: the fibre keeps none of the plant’s properties.
origins we can prove.
Egyptian and Supima cotton are often faked. We will only use those names with a licence and DNA-tested fibre behind them.
numbers you can test.
“Three times more absorbent” has no standard test behind it, so we won’t say it. Our drying times will come from a drying test on the finished towel, and we’ll show how we ran it.
no vague green words.
We won’t call a towel “eco-friendly” or “sustainable” on its own. Any environmental claim will say exactly what it means and link to the proof, as India’s 2024 greenwashing guidelines ask.
certificates you can check.
We are working towards OEKO-TEX® Standard 100 (tested for harmful substances) and GOTS for organic cotton, and will print the licence numbers so you can check them.
microfibre sheds.
Our microfibre towels release tiny fibres in the wash, like all synthetics. We say so, and we suggest a filter bag.
found your fabric soulmate?
Filter the shop by weave or fibre.