What Makes Turkish Cotton Superior
Turkish cotton, specifically Aegean cotton, is a symbol of quality in the linen business. This is because cotton harvested in the Aegean region has a longer staple, or fibers, than cotton grown in other areas. Cotton fiber length can vary based on the climate of a particular region and has a large impact on the feel and quality of the textile it produces. Long-staple cotton reduces the number of edges within a textile good, making it softer, smoother, and much more durable than lower-quality cotton. In fact, the region cotton is grown in much more important than thread-count when it comes to quality, despite what advertisements about 800-thread sheets may claim.
Turkey’s textile history goes back over a millennium, with raw cotton being grown in Turkey as early as 500 AD. Cotton textiles became a highly sought-after commodity during the Selçuk and Ottoman Empires when peshtemal towels grew in popularity. These Turkish towels were originally designed as a lightweight and absorbent towel for hammam-goers (i.e., Turkish bath) to cover themselves and dry off with. Turkish cotton is ideal for peshtemal because it is both lightweight and absorbent due to its longer fibers.
Turkish Cotton vs. Egyptian Cotton
Turkish cotton is often compared to Egyptian cotton, which has even longer fibers than what’s grown in the Aegean region. While long fibers are important, excessively long fibers in Egyptian cotton can lead to denser and heavier towels.
The extra absorbency may seem beneficial but can lead to longer drying times. Towels that remain damp for hours can become a breeding ground for germs, which is especially true in humid environments like bathrooms.
Aegean Cotton: The Gold Standard
Not all Turkish cotton is equal in quality. Turkey’s three cotton-growing regions: Çukurova, the Eastern Mediterranean, and the Aegean, offer varying quality. Aegean cotton, in particular, stands out for being the softest and strongest due to its long staple. This makes it highly absorbent yet lightweight, the ideal cotton for towels. Unlike Egyptian cotton, which is dense, Aegean cotton is naturally aerated, rending it hypoallergenic as well. This is why towels such as Bodrum Interior’s Classic Turkish Towel are ideal for those with people with allergens, babies, and those with sensitive skin.
Cotton grown in the Aegean region is superior to the others because its staple is softest and strongest. Aegean cotton is unique because it is highly absorbent, yet lightweight, making it the ideal cotton for bath towels. Aegean cotton is not dense, making it naturally hypoallergenic as well. This is why towels such as Bodrum Interior’s Classic Turkish Towel are ideal for those with people with allergens, babies, and those with sensitive skin.At Bodrum Interiors, our love for Aegean cotton is what inspired our brand. Our towels are loomed in the textile capital of the world, Denizli, which is renowned worldwide for superior cotton goods. We use only premium-grade Turkish cotton from the Aegean region and all-natural dyes to produce our classic peshtemals, ensuring a durable towel that is both beautiful and functional. And, unlike peshtemal towels using cotton from other regions, our towels just get softer and more absorbent with time, and is resistant to pilling, fading, or tearing.
In making the switch to Turkish towels, you’re not just buying another towel: you’re making the switch to the superior quality and craftsmanship that Aegean cotton brings.
Check out Bodrum Interior's Classic Turkish Towels made from premium Aegean cotton here.
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