Towel Material

Types of Towel Fabric

In this article, we have introduced the raw materials used to make towels. Now you'll learn how these towel ingredients are used in the different towel fabrics you see in the store and learn which fabric is best for your towel material.

No matter what you think, not all towels are created equal. Towels are woven fabrics and the way a towel is woven (braided) affects its look, feel, and performance.

So let's get started and take a closer look at some of the most common towel weaves and how they affect the final product.

Common Weave Types
Below you will find the five most common towel weave types: terry cloth, waffle, gauze, damask, and herringbone. We'll look at each type in turn, but before you get started, see if you can find your favorite towel in this collection.

Terry
Terry cloth is a terry fabric designed to absorb liquids. It consists of uncut loops of yarn on one or both sides of the fabric.

Terry cloth is the most common fabric used in towel making. The loops in the fabric make it more absorbent than a flat cotton towel. The length of these loops depends on the purpose of the towel. In high quality fabrics, the loops are tightly woven together and structurally strong, while in lower-quality fabrics, the loops are less tightly woven and may be easily snagged or pulled. Terry loops can come off, but towels do not need to be ironed.

When to look for Terry?
Long terry towels make great bath towels. They are highly absorbent and provide a satisfying plush feel when you grab them after a shower or wash. Towels with shorter pile ends (or even ribs) are great kitchen towels to replace waste paper, as they still have good absorbency, but are less likely to get stuck on other things when you use them.

Waffles (honeycomb)
Thanks to their unique three-dimensional grid structure, you can easily identify waffle fabrics. These towels are lightweight, comfortable to the touch and absorbent.

Waffle towels are woven using a special method that creates a regular square grid with raised edges. The unique structure of waffle fabrics increases their surface area, which means they can absorb better. The greater surface area does not significantly increase the weight of the towels, which means that waffle towels can still be air-dried quickly.