The Real Turkish Towel

The Tradition:

Perfected over centuries… If these towels needed fixing, somone would have done it by now.

Today, people are discovering pestemals as the ultimate blend of luxury, convenience, sustainability and modern living.

Lightweight, quick-drying, heirloom-quality cotton is versatile. It fits seemlessly into a fast-paced, active lifestyle.

This isnt just a towel, its a centuries-old secret made for the way we want to live today.

However, not all pestemals are created equal. To ensure you’re getting an authentic pestemal, here is a quick quide…

Thin Yet Strong

The Magic of Single Layer Weave:

Best pestemals are THIN.

This might seem counterintuitive, as many people equate thickness with luxury, absorbency and quality.

However, the magic of a pestemal lies in its ability to be both lightweight and highly absorbent. Just a completely effective, soft, colorful, single layer of tightly woven supima cotton will surprise and delight the most discerning buyer.

Feel the long-staple cotton between your fingers. It should be light and thin, not bulky. This thinness is what makes pestemals so magical. Versatile and easy to pack, perfect for travel, beach, or gym, these beauties are great ANYWHERE.

Tight Weave

The Mark of Quality: 

Tight weave is good quality. A tightly woven pestemal is not only more durable but also more effective in terms of absorbency and quick drying.

To check the tightness of the weave, hold the pestemal up to the light. Genuine pestemals will not show any gaps between the threads. Gaps indicate a lower quality fabric. A tightly woven pestemal may be a bit stiff at first, but after a wash (or two) it will be softer and much more absorbent than you would imagine.

Hand-Twisted Ends

The Signature of Craftsmanship: 

Tassels may seem like a decorative afterthought, but they are actually a key indicator of authenticity.

High-quality pestemals feature hand-twisted tassels, a traditional finishing touch that adds both durability and aesthetic appeal. 

When examining the tassels, look for slim and slightly varied. This means tassels were twisted by experienced hands rather than by machine.

Hand-twisted tassels are typically tighter and more secure. This tradition in the finishing process is a mark of superior craftsmanship and a sign that you are holding an heirloom-quality pestemal.

More

Material:

Make sure its 100% Turkish cotton. Turkish cotton is known for its premium quality long-staple fibers. Turkish cotton is considered the gold standard in the textile industry. Its stronger, softer and more absorbent than anything else. Period.

Feel:

Tightly woven, quality cotton can feel a bit stiff at first. Cotton has natural oils that will repel water prior to washing…It gets softer and more absorbent after its first wash, and will continue to be moreso over time. This is its magic.

Conclusion

Finding a genuine pestemal is easy in Denizli, Turkey. The whole town has been weaving them for centuries…But the rest of the world needs to know a few things about the pestemal before buying.

Knowing about the thinness of the fabric, the tightness of the weave, and the craftsmanship of the tassels, you can pick out your favorite colors and patterns with assurance that your purchase will delight and surprise you, and last forever.