Do You Know What That Strip at the Bottom of Bath Towels Is For?

We often judge our bath towels on how soft they feel, or if their color matches the decorative tile just right. But, there’s another test of a towel’s character: the decorative, woven stripes near the bottom, aka the dobby border.

It is difficult to pinpoint when weavers first considered incorporating dobby borders on fabrics, but they started being a staple on bath towels sometime after the dobby loom came about in 1843, as its upgraded mechanics allowed weavers to create more complex fabric designs.

Today, dobby borders on bath towels are mostly ubiquitous, though sometimes we notice the touch of class they add. Other times, they can be frustrating, especially on lower-end towels, if the weave ends up shrinking, bunching or fraying.

Suddenly, dobby borders are having a moment, though, after someone on social media made a post wondering what they are for, and the post got more than 91 million views. If you’re curious about the answer to that question, here’s what to know about dobby borders, and why you might want, or not want them on your bathroom towels.

What Is the Strip at the Bottom of Towels Called?

That woven stripe near the edge of bath towels is called a dobby border. The name comes from the dobby loom, on which weavers use a special attachment to create simple, geometric patterns. The word “dobby” comes from the old term for a weaver’s assistant, “draw boy.” Sometimes, a dobby border is also called a dobbie border, decorative border, dobby weave, woven band, woven trim or decorative band.

What Is a Dobby Border, and What Does It Do?

A dobby border typically adds a touch of style to a towel, often through checkered, striped or diamond patterns. But it also serves more functional purposes. Because that stripe is denser and less absorbent than the rest of the towel, it helps towels hold their shape better, keeping them from shrinking unevenly in the wash and curling or fraying at the edges. Dobby borders can also make towels easier to hang on a clothesline and give added durability to towels that get washed often in commercial settings, like hotels and gyms.

“Plus, it offers a touch of design variation without printing or dyeing and often serves as a brand signature in luxury towels,” says product developer Belinda Jacobs.

What’s the Difference Between a Towel With and Without a Dobby Border?

Towels with dobby borders often last longer since the weave adds structure, thus helping the towel hold its shape. However, low-end dobby borders can shrink or pucker if they’re not properly pre-shrunk or stitched. So, whether to buy towels with a dobby border comes down to the quality of the towel you’re buying and your personal preference.

“Towels without a dobby border are usually larger and have a more modern feel, but could also be more prone to fraying or curling at the ends,” says designer Gretchen Riviera.

Do Towels With Dobby Borders Cost More?

Sometimes towels with dobby borders are more expensive because of the additional weaving process, though usually, the difference is marginal unless there are complex patterns or specialty yarns involved, like metallic threads. Often, luxury brands have dobby borders, too, and those will cost more as well.

“Dobby towels often also use a higher quality of cotton, so for the extra cost, you’re getting a more durable towel,” says Riviera. “It’s the towel equivalent of upgrading from flip-flops to loafers: still functional, just a bit more polished.

About the Experts

• Gretchen Rivera is owner and principal designer at Casa Casual Interiors in Alexandria, Virginia. She has more than two decades of experience as a conceptual artist and designer. Instagram: @casacasual_interiors.
• Belinda Jacobs is a product developer and technical designer at Tech Packs Co., where she helps fashion brands bring their products to life. She has 15 years of experience in fashion and manufacturing.

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The post Do You Know What That Strip at the Bottom of Bath Towels Is For? appeared first on Family Handyman.

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