Luxurious choices: the soft fabrics behind our luxury towels

We have a long history of crafting towels. From the moment we started making the first in Victorian England, based on that game-changing terry cloth sample, we’ve been obsessed with innovation and perfection. 

A Christy towel is defined by its superior softness, absorbency, and durability. With a dedication to the best natural fibres, innovative weaving techniques and finishing touches like borders and trims, we give each towel its unique properties and a true high-end feel.  

It’s all about the fabric  

By their very nature, towels should be absorbent, but this level of absorbency can vary depending on all those factors, and the fabric used makes a huge difference to the overall feel and quality.  

You’ll notice that a true high-end towel will be made from luxury fabrics, often from natural fibres or materials to enhance its properties and performance (think softness, absorbency, durability). In this article, we’ll run through our fabric choices and why they matter. 

Terry Cotton 

The founding fabric in the Christy House, terry cotton has been used for centuries. It was Henry Christy who saw the potential of the fabric for industrial production after returning from Turkey with a sample in 1850, and from there the modern towel became a firm fixture in British households and into the world beyond.  

Terrycloth is by nature soft, plush and absorbent, with cotton loops that wick moisture and dry quickly. Terrycloth is a weave rather than a cotton variety, using a method of two yarns to create a base and a pile for a looped surface. The height and density of loops can vary, but generally the longer the loop, the fluffier the feel. Part of the beauty of terry cotton is that it’s durable, low maintenance, and resistant to piling and shedding.  

100% Cotton 

If you see this on your care label, you’ll know that your towel is only made from cotton, rather than a blend of fabrics. As a round-up, cotton is one of the most popular fabrics for towels because it naturally excels in wicking away moisture, it’s breathable and it’s durable.    

There’s a huge difference in the quality of different cotton types. This quality comes down to the length of the cotton fibres (AKA staple length). The longer they are, the more luxurious and durable the cotton. ‘Long-staple’ cotton varieties include Egyptian, Turkish and Supima® cotton. All are used within the Christy towel collection, each adding something unique yet universally premium. Along with the cotton variety used, the weave also impacts the feel of your towel. A longer loop will feel ‘shaggier’ and a short loop smoother. We also have patented weaving techniques to enhance plushness and absorbency. 

Turkish Cotton 

This premium variety of cotton is grown only in Turkey and is known worldwide for its velvety softness. It’s been grown in the region for centuries and is characterised by its long-staple fibres which measure up to 1.5 inches. This long length gives it a smooth, lustrous feel and means it stands up to fraying and piling.  

It’s also an especially absorbent type of cotton, thanks to a unique fibre structure with a hollow core. This helps your Turkish cotton towel wick away moisture from your skin effectively and dry quickly afterwards. This kind of bath towel delivers plushness, with a velvety smooth skin feel and a natural lustre. It’s also strong and durable long-term.  

Egyptian Cotton  

Just like Turkish Cotton which hails from Turkey, Egyptian Cotton is grown in Egypt. Authentic Egyptian Cotton is grown along the River Nile, with its fertile soils and ideal growing climate. This creates a luxurious type of cotton that’s long in fibre length, strong, and high quality. 

This variety has the edge when it comes to absorbency and fluffiness compared to Turkish, but it doesn’t dry as quickly. It’s known as an ELS (or extra-long staple cotton) which gives it these plush properties. This often means that sumptuous bath towels are made with this fabric, as opposed to everyday towels.   

Supima® Cotton  

Another extra-long staple cotton variety, Supima® Cotton is a tightly regulated variety grown only in America, from the Pima plant. Exceptionally soft, smooth and durable, it’s a premium cotton fibre that delivers all the luxuriousness needed for our towels.  

Tightly regulated, Supima® Cotton goes through stringent quality checks before it can be used. It’s also durable, standing up to the problems of piling and fraying, which gives it points for everyday practicality. Supima® has a silky hand feel, holds colours well and goes the distance, even in busy homes.    

Bamboo 

As well as being soft, durable and silky in texture, Bamboo has naturally antimicrobial and hypoallergenic properties and is quick to dry. This makes it a perfect choice for towelling, especially performance towels, used in the gym or during sports.  

We use bamboo as a blend in select Christy products, to combine the good qualities of two natural fibres. On one hand, you have the softness and absorbency of quality cotton, and on the other, you get the quick-drying, antimicrobial hit from Bamboo.  

To find out more about the fabrics used in our towels, browse our shop and find your perfect match.