Traditional terry cloth is woven from cotton; Today, high-quality terry is typically made of cotton, because -- unlike other materials that weaken in water -- the absorbent fiber in cotton gets stronger when wet. In fact, cotton can absorb 20 to 30 times its own weight in water. The loop pile acts as a sponge while withstanding squeezing, pulling, rubbing, twisting and turning. Thanks to its fantastic absorbency, cotton terry is a wonderful choice for towels, bath mats, bath robes, beach and pool towels. Terry towels can easily be dyed or printed, as well as decoratively embroidered