Looking back through history, a hammam towel is a flat-woven cotton fabric that has mainly been used as a traditional cloth in Turkish Hammams to cover bathers. It’s also known as a “Peshtemal” towel.
The contemporary hammam towel that we know and use today has evolved from this historical Turkish hammam tradition. Nowadays, they are known to be super-absorbent, quick-dry bath & travel towels, very popular with people who lead active, adventurous lifestyles, as they are also ultra-versatile and lightweight.
Cotton & Olive Peshtemal Hammam towels are 100% pure cotton. They have a very distinctive stripe pattern coming in various shapes & sizes and hand-finished tassels on the fringes, which make these towels truly authentic.
Cotton is a highly sustainable, eco-friendly fibre that contributes to the world economy and is widely used in the textile industry. Turkish hammam textiles are still traditionally woven on hand looms, inch by inch, by local craftsmen for generations. In the southwest of Turkey, where we source our products straight from the artisan craftsmen, this truly humble family tradition is still a very vibrant lifestyle passed on to the younger generations, boys and girls in this part of Turkey. Each unique pattern created belongs to a specific craftsman and his family. They have the honour of naming their creation, and it becomes their trademark.
The size of a peshtemal hammam towel may vary slightly as they are hand-loomed. However, in general, its standard size is 90 x 180 cm, and the average weight is ±300 grams. Once folded or rolled, a peshtemal towel becomes extremely compact to pack and carry. They are lightweight, fluff-free towels that are easy to wash and extremely fast-dry. Last but not least, the Turkish hammam towel is a long-lasting and colour-fast fabric.
Its compactness and practicality allow it to be used and enjoyed in many ways, such as a picnic or beach blanket, a sarong or a trendy scarf, a sofa throw, a tablecloth, or a modesty and/or head cover, to name just a few. All these combined features of a peshtemal hammam towel make it a popular, trendy yet utilitarian product for travellers, campers, and other outdoor activities, as much as for indoor use.
There has been a remarkable increase in demand for the hammam towel in recent years. They certainly represent a lifestyle that is definitely greener, kinder and closer to nature.
A hammam towel is an alternative product that particularly appeals to open-minded people who think outside the box and enjoy the outdoors, sports, adventure, holidaying, camping, hiking, and travelling. We really hope you give these inspiring towels a try and enjoy them as much as we do, and share our passion for them…