Bath towels are a household necessity. At Pillow Talk, our towels are both stylish and practical – without compromising on quality. When it comes to selecting the perfect bath towel, of course, colour comes into play, but there are a whole host of other influential factors that should be considered.
Pima cotton is one of the world’s finest cottons. Its’ long fibres are spun to make a more refined, soft and silk-like yarn, resulting in superior quality cotton. Renowned for its soft and smooth feel, the quality of Pima cotton products enhances with use and washing, making them more durable over time.
Turkish cotton, grown exclusively in Turkey, is a long-fibred cotton spun into a fine yarn. Turkish cotton products are well-suited for use in humid climates as they tend to dry quickly. The result is a soft, durable and fast-drying towel.
The high growth rate of bamboo and its’ ability to survive in many different climates make it a sustainable resource. Bamboo fibre is light-weight, extremely absorbent and has natural antimicrobial qualities. The fibre is naturally smooth and consequently less irritable to sensitive skin. The result is a highly absorbent towel that stays fresh for longer.
Combed cotton is carded cotton that has been further refined and combed to separate the long, desirable fibres from the shorter fibres and impurities. This finer yarn provides a stronger, smoother product.
Zero twist cotton has very low or no twist to it, and can only be constructed from long staple cotton. The lack of twist in the yarn allows the cotton fibres to open up, letting air reach the inner parts of the yarn more quickly, increasing absorbency and reducing the time it takes to dry. The result is a plush, absorbent and fast-drying towel with the ability to absorb up to four times more moisture by weight than conventional towels.
GSM, yarn and ply—these are three terms you’ll likely come across when researching bath towels.
GSM
GSM stands for grams per square metre and refers to the amount of cotton that has been used in a product. The more cotton that is used in a product, the higher the GSM. GSM in towels usually ranges from about 450gsm up to 700gsm. The higher the GSM, the thicker and heavier the product is. The GSM does not affect absorbency but a lower GSM towel will dry more quickly than that of a higher GSM.
Yarn
Yarn is made by twisting or bonding fibres together to produce a long strand in a process called spinning. Yarn may contain a single type of fibre or blend of various types. For example – Cotton vs Polyester/Cotton blend. This can then be woven to create towels and other textiles.
Ply
A ply is a single layer or strand of yarn. Plying refers to the process in which 2 or more strands of yarn are twisted together to make a thicker, stronger thread. Single ply means that the product has been made by weaving single yarns together. Double or 2 ply means that 2 strands of yarn have been twisted together to make one thread which can then be woven into a product.