Beach Towels - All you need to know

Even though the humble towel originates from 17th century Turkey, specifically during the Ottoman Empire, the Beach Towel does not have quite such a lengthy history.

The towel dates back to the Northwestern Turkish city of Bursa. Beginning as a simple, often hand-woven piece of cotton fabric known as a pestamal, the use of towels was initially seen as a sign of wealth.

Usually found in Turkish baths, used for drying off after a soothing steam bath, they did not become widely available to the general public until the much later in the 19th century.

Towels began as thin, narrow pieces of fabric. They were extremely lightweight which meant they dried quicker and were easy to use.

However, as the Ottoman Empire continued to grow, so did the demand for towels. Slowly but surely they became larger in size, big enough to wrap around the whole body.

As times change and the desires of the consumer evolve, so has the types of towels that are now on the market.

There are now a vast range of patterns, designs, colours and sizes for all to choose from. You now have face cloths to hand towels, bath towels to bath sheets and of course the beach towel.

History of the beach towel

Looking back over time, the idea of having tanned skin as a result of being outdoors in the warm weather was associated with the lower classes.

This was because the upper classes were able to maintain their paler skin as they could afford to live their lives of leisure indoors in the comfort of their own home.

Farmers and the labour class meanwhile were forced to work long hours in usually very hot and sunny conditions.

Unintentionally, it may have been the French fashion trailblazer Coco Chanel who was responsible for changing perceptions and indeed for the advent of the beach towel.

It all began in 1923 when she inadvertently caught the sun on a yacht trip from Cannes on the French Riviera.

Her fans started to copy her look and for the first time, sun-tanned skin became fashionable.

This in turn began hinting at glamour and wealth, becoming associated with people who had the time and money to travel to sunnier and warmer climates for a summer break.

Beach Towels today

Nowadays, having a beach towel with you as you travel abroad, lounge poolside or simply enjoy a family day trip to the seaside is a must have travel companion. In fact, we simply won't go to the beach without one.

They come in different shapes and sizes, different colours and designs. They are guaranteed to make your trip, wherever that may be, more fun and relaxing.

But what is it specifically that we look for when choosing a beach towel to accompany us on our travels? The truth is there are a number of factors that go in to choosing the right beach towel for us.

A beach towel's main purpose is, of course, to dry us off after a dip into the water, whether that's the ocean or the pool.

If you're looking for a super absorbent option, look no further than our striking Jumbo Rainbow Stripe Beach Towel. This towel features one side of terry cloth, an extremely absorbent type of natural cotton crafted on a special loom.

Its expertly woven loops are specially designed to pull in as much moisture as possible, making this towel ultra absorbent as well as promising long-lasting performance and durability.

We have engineered our Jumbo Rainbow Beach Towel with your utmost comfort in mind. The clever cotton terry loop side of the towel provides the ideal feeling against your skin, soft and absorbent, and swiftly drying you when required.

Another important reason that we use a beach towel is for a beautifully soft surface to lie on, whether that's on a sandy beach or a comfy sun lounger.

The velour finish on our premium Cabana Stripe extra large beach towels offer supreme softness. Velour is a wonderfully plush fabric, characterised by it's soft-to-the-touch finish with cut fibres that follow the stroke of your hand. 

There are bright and bold colours available in our Jumbo Cabana Beach Towels which makes sure that they will never get lost at the beach after a refreshing dip in the ocean or a walk to the ice cream van.

Spend your summer living it up in the sun and jumping care-free into the waves with your trusted Allure Bath Fashions Beach Towel by your side. 

Sometimes, we are looking for a smaller and more lightweight towel to fit perfectly into our baggage allowance when we set off on our travels. 

Measuring in at 70 x 140cm (28" x 55" approx), our Nautical Block Stripe Beach Towel strikes the perfect balance. These towels are perfectly big enough for your sun lounger, but at the same time, lightweight enough to fit inside your travel bag.

Alternatively, you can indulge in the luxurious large size of our Jumbo Cabana Beach Towels.

Measuring a generous 100 x 180cm (40" x 70" approx), this towel is perfect for trips to the beach, lounging poolside, camping trips, music festivals or any other outdoor activity. This beach towel is one of the largest you will find on the market.

Thanks to this towel's deep thickness, you'll also dry yourself off quicker, and the towel won't feel as wet afterwards.

What's more, it's natural, sustainable and biodegradable cotton materials are much kinder on the skin than microfibre alternatives. Why not treat yourself?