Okay, tell me I’m not the only one who’s done this: You step out of the shower, take hold of your towel, and then, while drying off, your brain locks in on that one weird, flat strip near the end. You know the one. It’s not fluffy like the rest of the towel. It’s just… there. Different. Suspicious. If you’ve ever been one of those people who stares at that part of a towel thinking, “What is that hiding?” you’re not alone. I once spent a good five minutes poking at it, certain I had found some towel manufacturing defect. Spoiler: I had not. Turns out, that little section actually has a name. It is known as a dobby border, and it serves a purpose beyond decoration. It’s there for an actual, practical reason—one that may leave you appreciating your towels just a little more.
So, what’s the story with the dobby border? Let’s talk about it.
What Is the Dobby Border?
Okay, let’s get a little technical for a minute. The dobby border is that smooth, often decorative strip that goes along the edge of a towel. Whereas the rest of the towel is made from soft, looped cotton (aka terry cloth), this part is woven differently, resulting in a flatter, tighter texture.
You generally see it all the way toward the bottom or top of a towel, and in some cases, depending on the brand, it may feature a little pattern or some other fanciness woven in. But there’s a reason this part of a towel isn’t just for aesthetics–it actually has a job to do.
Why Do Towels Have a Dobby Border?
