- The woven strip on a towel is called a dobby border.
- A dobby border helps a towel keep its shape and prevent it from fraying.
- A towel doesn’t need to have a dobby border to absorb, but it does offer additional perks.
Throughout your home, there are several hidden mysteries within everyday items that you may not think to question. One of them? Why there are lines along bath towels and hand towels.
The stripes are standard across the industry, meaning you’ll find it on high-end brands, like Matouk and Boll & Branch, as well as more budget-friendly brands, like Mainstays and Amazon Basics. Most liken the line to a design choice that gained favor among customers, making it a staple in the towel industry. But, there’s more to it.
What’s the purpose of a towel line?
To get to the bottom of this mystery, we tapped Emma Seymour, The Good Housekeeping Institute’s Textiles, Paper & Apparel Lab Associate Director, for her expertise.
“It’s the dobby border, common on many bath towels,” says Seymour. “It helps the towel keep its shape because it offers more structure than if it was entirely terrycloth. It also helps prevent fraying.”
What is a dobby border?
A dobby border is a woven strip near a towel’s ends. It can appear as a single strip or multiple, but it is always located near a towel’s edges.
According to Seymour, “Testers tend to like the look of the border, but most don’t comment on it if a towel lacks a dobby border,” meaning it’s not a make-or-break feature for most customers.
Do towels need a dobby border?
Not necessarily. A towel without a dobby border will still absorb, as is its primary function. However, it may not have the same durability and longevity as one with a dobby border.
It’s about weighing out what’s most important to you when shopping. If the price is right, and you like the look of a towel without a dobby border, buy it. There are other factors that contribute to a towel’s durability and performance, such as fiber content, fabric weight, construction and more, not just the dobby border. So the towel you select may still go the distance.
If you like the look and function of woven ends, here are the dobby border towels Seymour recommends. Plus, a list of the best bath towels our lab technicians have tested.
Kate Franke (she/her) is an editorial assistant in the Hearst Lifestyle Group, covering for Woman’s Day and Good Housekeeping. She loves all things lifestyle, home, and market related. Kate has a BAJMC in Magazine Media and BA in Writing from Drake University. She is a proud ASME alum whose work has appeared in Food Network Magazine, The Pioneer Woman Magazine, Better Homes & Gardens, Modern Farmhouse Style, Beautiful Kitchens & Baths, and more. Next to writing, Kate’s two favorite things are chai lattes and pumpkin bread!
