Bath Towel Materials

Cotton, cotton everywhere and not a drop of water left unabsorbed.

Feel the power of Supima bath towels or luxuriate in the finest Egyptian cotton.

Historically, many different materials have been used to manufacture bath towels. In Europe, linen was a primary bath towel material until about the 19th century, when the mechanization of the textile industry made cotton bath towels cheaper and easier to produce. Most bath towels manufactured today are made from 100% cotton or cotton blends with synthetic materials such as polyester.

Cotton and its dis-contents

The strength and absorbency of cotton bath towels can be determined from the type of cotton used and the quality of its manufacturing. The best cotton bath towels are thick and feature long and densely packed loops or piles designed to efficiently capture and absorb water. The term terrycloth is often used to describe the piled fabric of cotton bath towels.

These are some of the materials used to manufacture bath towels:

Upland cotton

Upland cotton is the main type of cotton grown in America. Bath towels made from 100% upland cotton would feature short or medium staples. The staple is the measurement of a cotton fiber's length and fineness. Longer staple cottons are higher quality.

Egyptian cotton

Egyptian cotton bath towels are among the most popular. Egypt is a leading producer of extra long staple cotton, or cotton with a staple of 37mm or more. Bath towels made from 100% Egyptian cotton are some of the most luxurious, soft, and plush bath towels you'll find.

Modal

Be sure to check the label when purchasing bath towels, as some are made from a blend of 50% Egyptian cotton and another material such as Modal. Modal is a bio-based fiber trademarked by the company Lenzing AG. It is a rayon-like textile made from beechwood cellulose and is 50% more absorbent than cotton.

Microcotton

Don't get micro cotton confused with microfiber. They are two different materials. Micro cotton bath towels are extremely soft and absorbent and are made from 100% Sea Island cotton, an excellent long staple cotton. Bath towels made from micro cotton make for soft and fluffy luxury bath towels.

Microfiber

Microfiber is a tightly woven, soft, and lightweight synthetic fiber typically made from a blend of rayon, polyester, acrylic, or nylon. Because microfiber is so thin, bath towels made from it require more fibers in a smaller surface area, which enhances water absorbency. Microfiber bath towels are excellent for travel, as they are soft and ultra absorbent, gentle and quick drying.

Supima

Like Modal, Supima is a trademarked name for its material. Unlike Modal though, Supima is 100% cotton. Supima cotton is an extra-long staple cotton that is extremely soft and durable. Supima is short for superior Pima, which is another long staple cotton fiber.

Supima bath towels are comparable in quality to Egyptian cotton bath towels. As with Egyptian bath towels, it's advisable to check the label when buying Supima bath towels. The label may state 100% Cotton, but this number could be derived from a blend of Supima cotton with upland cotton.