Matouk's Auberge Towel is a luxurious towel and a fun way to personalize your bathroom. |
Towels are an easy and relatively inexpensive way to complement or change the look of your bathroom. Colorful towels can be used to reflect new seasons or different moods. Or for a classic style, nothing says timeless luxury quite like fluffy, freshly laundered white towels.
But beyond deciding on the right color or
pattern, how do you pick a towel that’s right for you and will stand the test of time? If you want a towel that will last, you will want to look at luxury
towels. Although they cost more, they will last much longer and provide a
superior user experience. Inexpensive
towels begin to feel rough and lose their absorbancy after several
washings. They also will most likely begin to fray and fall apart before
a quality towel begins to show signs of wear.
Most people prefer a bath towel that is soft, absorbent and substantial enough to provide a touch of comfort. Factors that effect the feel and quality of a towel include its ability to absorb moisture, weight, texture and fabric content. Here is more information about these components, so you can be better informed when choosing luxury towels:
All towels have a fabric weight, measured with a GSM (grams per square meter) number. The higher a fabric’s GSM, the denser, and therefore more absorbent, the fabric will be. In general, you should look for a towel with a GSM of at least 500 for luxurious towels for use in the master or guest bathroom.
If you want a truly luxurious feel from your bath towels, you should also consider the fabric content very carefully. A high-quality towel is typically made from cotton fibers that are long and fine. Egyptian cotton is considered the crème de la crème of towel fabrics. These luxury towels have longer, more-fibrous threads, meaning that each towel will have more moisture-sucking loops per inch. Abyss & Habidecor's
Super Pile Towels are 100% Egyptian Cotton and have a 700 gram weight, which make them the thickest and most luxurious towels that you'll find.
When shopping for better towels, look for fabric of 100% Egyptian cotton, or for the Supima trademark, which guarantees a towel is made of 100% American pima cotton.
Turkish cotton is another premium cotton and provides the perfect balance between absorbency and softness.
Zenith Turkish Towels by the Turkish Towel Company have a 700 gram weight and are closely woven and double-looped. Whether or not your towel is single loop or double loop will affect its absorbency. Both single loop and double loop towels are highly absorbent, but single loop dries a bit faster. That’s partly why single loop is the most common type of towel construction. On the other hand, double loop towels are more dense and feel more luxurious to the touch, so depending on what you’re looking for, you may be willing to wait a little longer for dry towels.
Modal is a type of fabric that is being used in modern luxury towels like Yves Delorme's
Etoile Bath Towels. Its fans claim that it's about 50 percent more absorbent than even cotton alone, and that it won't fade over time.
Linen is also being used in high quality towels. The ultimate indulgence of Abyss & Habidecor's
Lino Towels comes from its combination of 65% Egyptian Cotton and 35% Linen. Ecru on one side and a heathered linen on the other, this reversible towel is super absorbent and gives you a wonderfully clean feeling.
Eco-conscious buyers can look for organic cotton towels like the beautifully textured, incredibly absorbent
Corduroy Organic Cotton Towels by Abyss & Habidecor or towels made from luxuriously soft bamboo like
Bamboo Bath Towels by Peacock Alley. Bamboo towels are naturally bacteria and mildew-resistant, which helps keep them smelling nice and fresh, and have been found to be extremely absorbent and durable.
Specialty microfiber towels are lighter and thinner than cotton towels and have excellent absorbency. The
Aquis Micofiber Hair Towel, for example, draws water from wet hair faster and more thoroughly than ordinary towels.
One last thing to consider is the weave, which effects the way the towel feels. For example,
Twill Bath Towels by Abyss & Habidecor are woven in three directions, providing greater durability, quick drying and less lint.
All of the luxury bathroom towels mentioned here are high quality but distinctly different. Which one is best for you will depend on your personal preferences.
