QUALITY HAND TOWELS

HISTORY OF THE TOWEL

Not only was the looped technique invented in Turkey, the towel has traditionally been a central part of Turkish life, used for important occasions in Turkish culture. For example, before her wedding, a bride would take a ceremonial bath and thenuse a luxurious towel before dressing. Towels have also been linked with the hamam, or Turkish bath, as far back as the 17^th century when the women of the Ottoman Empire in persuaded their weavers to make increasingly more elaborate and exquisite pieces for them to be seen in. This is when the style, design and flair of Turkish towels was introduced.

The hamam towel (called a pestamel) is a flat woven piece long enough to wrap around the body for use in the hamams. They have always been very practical as they stay light when wet and are very absorbent. Different sizes exist for the shoulders, body and head.

As each generation of women in the palaces of Turkey continued to demand new designs and more beautiful pieces, the first looped towel is believed to have evolved in the 18th century. Called havlu, the Turkish word for towel, this new invention consisted of rows of woven loops and was the beginning of what we know as a towel today, although towels did not become affordably priced until the 19^thcentury.

Bath Towels NZ, Hand Towels, ,luxury Bath Towels NZ,white linen supply, white commercial towels, towel for motel, towel for hotel, towel for hospital ----------------------------------------------------