Towels with fringes: how practical this beautiful trend really is

Lightweight companions: towels with fringes

Loose and lightweight, the MÖVE collections with fringes evoke a sense of relaxation and call out for leisurely hours at the spa or beach. Lightweight fringed towels are a current trend at beaches, swimming pools and in saunas. They not only look great but are also highly functional. While they are primarily designed for drying off, they should not be missing from your beach bag for other uses either! In this article, we explore where fringed towels come from and the many ways they can be used.

Where do hammam towels with fringes come from?

Fringed towels are well known in Mediterranean countries such as Turkey or Egypt. As hammam towels, they have long been used in the Orient and are the traditional companion in a hammam, a special type of public bath. There, the original narrow cloth is called a “pestemal”. Today, hammam towels are usually large enough to wrap around the body completely.

They are typically thinly woven and mainly used to cover oneself during a visit to the bath—textile-free sauna bathing is not standard everywhere. Hammam towels often feature bright colours, while stripes are also typical for this type of towel.

The fringes are created from the warp threads, the lengthwise yarns of the fabric. In traditional production in small villages, they are often knotted by hand at the end. In machine production, they are firmly woven into the hem of the towel and fall loosely and playfully at the ends.

Fringed towel: terry or flat-woven?

A fringed towel should absorb water and dry effectively. Terry cloth is particularly well suited for this purpose. However, smooth or lightly textured cotton towels with fringes are not only decorative or suitable as throws—they can also be highly absorbent after a swim in the sea or pool.

This also applies to our MÖVE PIQUÉE collection: the fine waffle piqué fabric is lightweight and soft, yet still ideal for drying off or as a surface to lie on. Although the surface area is smaller than that of a terry towel, the high-quality cotton reliably dries and absorbs a large amount of water thanks to its honeycomb structure. Those who prefer terry towels with fringes will find them in the MÖVE CALM ESSENCE range.

Which version is best depends, of course, on personal preference. Some people find terry towels too fluffy for the sauna, while others feel that a thin fringed towel is not sufficient as a base.

Versatile and easy to transport

Lightweight fringed towels allow you to showcase your favourite design not only at the beach but also for many other uses. The following ideas show just how versatile and creative their applications can be:

• Beach towel
• Sarong
• Sauna underlay
• Picnic blanket
• Throw for home use
• Tablecloth