Why Do Towels Have a Dobby Border?
You’d assume towels are merely big, fluffy rectangles of fabric, right? Wrong. It turns out there’s an incredible amount of thought that goes into creating them.
The dobby border? It has two main jobs.
1. It Keeps the Towel’s Shape
Ever taken a towel out of the wash and realized that it seemed a little… off? Like it had somehow gotten elongated or uneven? Yeah, that’s because towels are like most fabrics – they can lose their shape over time.
But the dobby border helps to keep that at bay. Because it’s woven more tightly than the rest of the towel, it serves as a stabilizer, preventing the fabric from stretching out too much in the wash. It’s like a built-in defence against towel wonkiness. It’s a very high-tech term, I’m aware.
And speaking of laundry, washing towels with your clothes is a horrible idea. That extra friction from zippers and buttons can break down towel fibers way faster than you’d expect. If you’ve been tossing those in with your regular laundry, it may be time to stop doing so. Mixing towels with clothing can actually damage both.
2. It Helps Prevent Fraying
So, those towel loops – let’s talk about them. Those little loops of fabric are why towels are so absorbent—but they also make them susceptible to unraveling. And where does unraveling usually begin? The edges.
This where the dobby border comes in. Since it doesn’t have loops like the rest of the towel, it acts as a protective barrier, which lessens fraying and keeps the towel from unravelling longer. Essentially, it’s the unsung hero of towel durability.
So, Is It Just Functional? Or Decorative Too?
A little of both! Manufacturers also use dobby borders to provide a little bit of flair; its primary function can be thought of as preventing stretch and fraying. Have you ever seen those fancy towels with elaborate designs woven into the edge? That’s all due to the dobby weaving technique.
Some luxury hotels and spas even customize dobby borders with their logos knitted into the fabric itself. Fancy! I mean, I’m not going to turn down the chance to wrap myself in a hotel-quality towel every day.
How to Keep the Dobby Border (and Your Towels) in Good Shape
