Admit it, you’ve gotten curious about the strips on every bath towel you find. You might ask, “Why does a towel have to have this style?”
Well, I can’t blame you. I also said that before. On other occasions, I once asked why the flat strip is among the designs they can use.
That’s before I found out the weird flat strip on the towel that I saw makes sense.
If you are not familiar with that weird flat strip, it’s called a dobby border. Other people also call it the cam border.
When you see one in the future, your perception about the towel strip might change.
It’s time to know what it is and the reason it’s there.
Keeps the Towel Intact
When you hold a towel, you either twist, tug, wring, hang, or throw it in the wash. These actions affect the towel’s durability.
The dobby border works like armor for the fabric, preventing it from fraying or loosening easily because it is woven more tightly into the towel.
Without the dobby border, the towel can only be used briefly. Moreover, the towel looks rough.
Grab the towel you can see around and check that it has a border.
Keep the Towel in Shape
After you wash the towel and put it in the dryer, you see it is slightly crooked. You might wonder why your towel becomes that even though it’s rectangular.
Washing and drying affect the fabric’s shape. But because of the border, the towel was only slightly affected.
The tightly woven border keeps the fabric holding together. It also helps the towel prevent shrinking and getting a permanent uneven shape.
That’s how your towel managed to be durable after two or three years of use. The border keeps it usable and in good condition.
A Room for Logo and Design
The border isn’t just for the fabric; it’s also for the aesthetics. Some towels were easier to decorate because of it.
That portion can be used to put a logo, add more detailed patterns, or add some embroidered parts.
Those towels you used at the hotels, resorts, and accommodation areas you’ve been to. Their towels were personalized or branded along the border.
The border is an effective way to add a specific design to the towel.
Ah, there are Two Types?
Towel borders have two types. I learned this from experts who can identify the differences.
Dobby and cam borders can both make the towels useful and durable. However, the dobby border is much more decorative than the cam border.
Cam borders are simply woven, but they can still hold the towel’s shape and fabric.
Neither one is a wrong choice; it only matters to your intention.
Cam-bordered towels are for daily use, while the dobby-bordered towels are great for commercial use (like a spa).
Shopping Behavior on Towels
When you’re buying towels in the future, you don’t just go stand and squeeze them like a delicate tomato.
Try to check their borders, too. Only you can choose whether you want a plain-bordered towel or one with an intricate design.
But it’s critical to check the borders because a well-made border isn’t stiff and is securely sewn to the fabric.
There are some cheaper ones with not-so-good stitches, which may contribute to shrinking in the future washing and drying process.
Here are some tips you need to remember when looking for the towel:
- Run your fingers along the towel border. A great-quality towel has a smoother texture; skip those wavy or bumpy feels.
- See the stitching patterns; they must be neat and tightly woven. Don’t buy towels with loose threads.
- The highly recommended towels don’t just have a tightly, well-woven border, but they must also be made from a longer-staple cotton. Such quality lasts longer because it’s less linty.
- After purchasing the towel of your choice, wash and dry it before using. This is one way to determine how tightly woven the border was.
Using the Decorative Bands
Now that you know what the border is and its role, you can use it.
When you fold the towels, use the band as its built-in guide. You may fold it to run vertically or horizontally on the bands.
Fold it the same way as other towels, and your linen closet will look neat and organized.
You can also let the band show when you hang a towel on the rack. If it has a nice color or pattern, it’s free decoration.
Minor Design, Major Role
That little strip you’ve seen in the towel is not a random design or style.
It protects the towel’s shape, keeps it intact, or decorates with specific branding.
Without it, the entire towel won’t be usable for long-term. The fabric is easily disposable and is only for short-term use.
Now that you’ve learned all these things. Do you think you can choose the best towel for you in the future?
It was there working quietly, holding everything together against heat, water, and other challenges brought by future washing and drying.
You’ll never have to ask which towel is good. But you can see it and assess for yourself.
Sooner or later, people around you may ask about the border on your towel. It’s great if you share it with your family and friends.