Towel without cotton: is that possible?

Towel without cotton: is that possible?

Alternatives to cotton for towels

Cotton is one of the most widely used materials for clothing and terry products. However, if you want to avoid cotton permanently or for a specific occasion, you may face a challenge: which material is a good alternative? In this article, we look at different materials used in the production of towels and give you an overview of their respective properties. After reading, you’ll know what to look for when buying your next towel if you don’t want cotton.

These materials are alternatives to cotton

Sometimes you may want something other than cotton for your towel—perhaps you prefer a different feel on the skin, a different texture, or you want to focus on locally sourced materials. The variety of materials for towels is greater than you might expect at first glance.

Possible materials include:

• Bamboo: a soft and luxurious natural fiber (viscose made from bamboo pulp as in our MÖVE BAMBOO LUXE collection)
• Linen: a very robust and durable natural fiber
• Microfiber: very fine fibers made from natural or synthetic materials,
  e.g. polyester, nylon, acrylic, cellulose
• Hemp: a natural fiber with very high absorbency that dries quickly
• Modal: a semi-synthetic fiber based on wood that is soft and durable

At MÖVE, we value the properties that cotton provides. However, other materials also have their advantages. That’s why we offer collections made from exciting material blends, combining different properties to create the best possible towel for you.

What properties does cotton have?

Cotton is a popular material for towels because this natural fiber is highly absorbent and durable. It results in soft yet robust towels that are also suitable for allergy sufferers.

These properties are offered by other materials

To give you an overview of possible alternatives or additions to cotton as a towel material, we have compiled the most important properties of different materials.

Depending on which properties are most important to you, you can decide which material or material blend you prefer for your next towel. We also place great value on sustainability.

Consider the intended use

Which material composition you ultimately choose also depends on how you plan to use your towel.

For everyday use, terry products that are absorbent and soft, yet quick-drying, are ideal. For this, we recommend towels from the SUPERWUSCHEL collection. For sports or outdoor activities, you may prefer a towel that is lightweight and highly absorbent.

Depending on your intended use, you might choose a cotton-linen blend. If a high-quality terry finish is less important to you, microfiber can also be an alternative.

Choosing the right cotton alternative: conclusion

Finding a towel completely without cotton can be difficult, but it is not necessarily required. If you simply want to emphasize certain properties of cotton or prefer a towel that is just as soft but dries faster, a cotton-bamboo blend is ideal. If you prefer a towel with a slightly firmer feel rather than cozy softness, we recommend our MÖVE EDEN collection with a 10% linen content.

Whatever you choose in the end: make sure the towel is well made and feels comfortable to you!