Peshtemal! Where does it come from and what is its history?

The iconic peshtemal is an element of Turkish and Ottoman culture, which was intended primarily for use in baths. It is associated with a Turkish hammam. And here we could end our reflections on the history of the peshtemal towel, but this one - just like the towel itself - will surprise us in many more ways. Lets follow the footsteps of cotton towels below!

Turkish visuals

Hot bath and morning shower. A walk along the seaside and holiday sunbathing. A moment of relaxation in the sauna or absolute bliss that comes with the hammam ritual. Or maybe just a decorative element (not only) of a bathing interior? There is something that all these visualizations have in common. What is that? Cotton towel! Turkish cotton! Peshtemal - because that's his name - comes from the Ottoman Empire, which is today's Turkey. This fact, however, should not be a surprise to anyone, because it is, after all, a traditional Turkish towel .

Cotton towel not so obvious

And speaking of tradition - the one in the case of cotton towels from Turkey is really impressive. These towels were initially used primarily in local baths. They were an indispensable element of the bathing ritual, which worked not only when drying the body. The hammam towel was an element of the bath wardrobe - men tied it around the waist, while women covered the body with it, intertwining it below the neckline. And although all this makes the role of the hammam towel absolutely fulfilled, over time its phenomenon went far beyond the walls of bathing spaces. The peshtemal towel , as the highest quality cotton fabric, was also used during various types of housework and worked well as a classic apron. Is this the end of his daring story? not at all!

Although there are many products on the market that impersonate the original, this one is only one. Recognizable primarily by the characteristic stripes. What's more - the Turkish towel is finished with unique, hand-tied fringes. While the fabric can take on different shades, the pattern is always the same - it can be thinner or slightly thicker - the stripes mentioned above. Just as today we attach great importance to the aesthetic side, so in the past it was an element used to recognize the origin of the owner of a given towel. The colors of the peshtemal , which was an element of the folk costume, indicated which region of the country a given person came from.

Peshtemal - what is its secret?

Knowing the oriental history of peshtemal , it is worth taking a closer look at the fabric itself, which may explain its phenomenon. Cotton towel - as its name suggests - is made of the highest quality Turkish cotton, whose fibers are much longer than in the case of other types of fibers. Cotton harvesting by natural methods is still popular in Turkey. Immediately after its harvest, the yarn production process begins. This one also deserves special attention... Cotton fabrics and products under the Loomac brand are made of pure cotton or a cotton-linen blend. Most importantly - our towels are free of any synthetic additives, so they can be safely used by children, allergy sufferers or people with very sensitive skin. Behind the final work is authentic traditional loom production. The Turkish towel is tightly woven, making it flat and compact.

His Majesty - Turkish towel from Loomac

All this adds up to an almost unique product, which is peshtemal . This one is characterized by exceptional versatility - the hammam towel is ideal not only as a bath towel , but also as a sauna towel or for the increasingly popular swimming. We can also use it as a beach towel or even a light and practical plaid.

Turkish towels have been traditionally produced for over a century by passionate craftsmen faithful to tradition and their own ideals. Due to the fact that fewer and fewer enthusiasts maintain this tradition, at Loomac we decided to contribute to its cultivation. Our mission is to provide original, native and traditional products made by local craftsmen in Anatolia and thus maintain this tradition and spread it around the world. Today it is you who can sustain it with us!