An informed buyer is an effective buyer. How much do you know about the technical makeup of your organization’s terry towel? A towel is often considered the cornerstone of any sort of hospitality or healthcare linen offering. It is an item most likely used by every one of its guests and it allows them to transpose themselves, even for a second, back into the comfort and tranquillity of their own home.

Use this inside look into how a terry towel is made to gain a little knowledge about this critical item and maximize the value of your towel investment today.

Quality of Yarn

Every towel is made up of 3 different yarns; the warp (length), the weft (width) and the pile (loop). Weaving warp yarns with weft yarns makes up what is commonly known as the ground of the towel. The pile is formed by an extra warp yarn looping in and out of the ground fabric. This is the part of the towel that comes into contact with a person’s skin.

Yarn quality is determined by its size and method of spinning (see Cotton 101). Each of the three yarns in a towel can be made from different yarns, so when deciding on the right towel for your investment, it’s important to get informed as to the quality of all three.

You can make a towel using a single ply construction of yarn or a double-ply. It is basically the amount of threads twisted together to form one single yarn. In the case of a double yarn, these are typically made with thinner yarns which are softer, however, they are also more delicate. For home-use, double-ply yarns are usually preferred because they are soft and do not need to withstand the rigours of an institutional wash process. A single ply yarn is preferred for use in the hospitality and healthcare industry due to the thickness and durability of the yarn.

Pile height and loops

Absorbency is created by maximizing the surface area, therefore a high pile is more absorbent.You will find single or double loops towels. Both can be of great quality. A single loop towel will dry faster. Double loops ones feel more luxurious.Terry towels with a velvet side are created by shaving and combing the loops.

Weight

For any given size, a towel’s overall weight is dictated by the size and quality of yarn (see above). There are two main ways to describe a towel’s weight: Grams per Square meter (GSM) or Pounds per Dozen. GSM is a great way to evaluate the density of a towel – a higher GSM will be thicker than a lower GSM, however pounds per dozen is an effective way to compare towels of the same size. A higher GSM means a more absorbent towel but it will also take more time and energy to dry.

Composition

The two most common compositions in the world of terry towels are 100% cotton and 86% cotton / 14% polyester. Polyester will typically be found in the ground of the towel and therefore will not directly have contact with the user’s skin. Polyester is used to add stability to the towel by helping to control shrinkage and increasing the towel’s durability.

Stitching and finishing

A double stitch seam and a double-turned edge means that the towel is less likely to unravel after numerous wash. There should be no yarns sticking out at the end of each border.

There is a certain romance that goes into wrapping yourself in a warm towel as you step out of a shower; pulling the terry tight around you, just like you’ve always done since you were a little kid. If you’ve ever reached out to your sales rep and asked for “something fluffy and soft”, you now know more about the science behind the making of your towels and can make an informed decision based on your budget and needs to give your clients the very best experience!