Peshtemal, also known as Turkish towel and hammam towel, is a very important tradition that has been carried from the Ottoman Empire to the modern-day. The Turkish bath is a very important, world-famous brand of our country. Almost everywhere in the world, in many luxury hotels and spa centers, it is strongly possible to encounter a Turkish bath. In fact, the Turkish bath and the Turkish peshtemal are two inseparable things.
“Peshtemal”, which is part of the Turkish cultural heritage, originated from Persian language and entered from Persian into our language. Peshtemals, which are used more frequently today, can be no-pattern, patterned and in various colors. Peshtemals, which are mostly preferred to have colored vertical striped design, are woven from natural yarn such as linen, cotton and bamboo. Peshtemals, which are used by men under waist and by women starting from underarms, are in fact the oldest dresses of the human history.
If we had been told years ago that Turkish towels would be so trendy, perhaps we would have not believed it. Turkish towel, which we use in place of pareo on beach in summer and at home in place of bathrobe, are also preferred due to their thinness.
In spa centers mostly striped and mixed-color ones are used. And on the beaches of the coastal resorts, the ones that are called pareo, which is thin, soft and patterned, are preferred.
Traditional hammam towel fashion, combining with modern production, is quickly becoming fashionable. Hammam towel, which especially in the Denizli-Kızılcababölük-Buldan region for many years is woven at traditional black looms and is used at Turkish baths, has become fashionable in the last few years. Beside now being an item in hotels, spas, beaches, promotions etc., it has replaced bath towel in houses and the hammam towel fashion has thus expanded. It is receiving more and more demand each passing day, because it is light, dries fast, absorbs water well and has no problem of leaving its fluffs.
Peshtemal is the product that we can call as the traditional Turkish bath and bathroom towel, which has been used for centuries. Peshtemal, which has been used for thousands of years in Anatolia, is very useful since it sucks in water quickly, dries easily and is light.
Peshtemal, which is usually woven in hand looms in different patterns by master craftsmen, is now among the indispensables in our daily life. It is used in many areas now.
There are many features that renders peshtemal superior to the towel.
The most important of them is its lightness. The peshtemal, which weigh between 200 and 300 grams, dry in five to ten minutes. It does not take up wide space in a bag or suitcase like towel.
Peshtemals are not just used in bathrooms and baths, but also are used at beaches, saunas, fitness room, sports hall, beauty centers, hairdresser salons, in short, they are within the life. Peshtemal cloth is used in manufacturing of peshtemal, hand towel, beach towel and bag.
Peshtemal’s latest wonder is the peshtemal bathrobe. The peshtemal bathrobe is very light and fast-drying.
Where is peshtemal used?
When Peshtemal is mentioned, Turkish bath usually comes to mind and it is thought to be used in the Turkish bath, whereas its places of use are numerous.
Namely, it is used in bathroom in place of bathroom towel, during travel in place of towel because it does not take much space, while sporting, in spas and massage rooms, on garden furniture and even as table and armchair cover.
Produced from natural yarn, it is ideal and healthy for children and infants.
In some regions it is called as paştamal, paştemal, peştamal, paştamel.
What is the origin of peshtemal as a name?
The root of peshtemal is the combination of “Püşt and Mal”, meaning back towel. In English, German and French, too, it is written as peshtemal and read like in Turkish.
Peshtemal, a woven cloth in rectangular shape, is among the most primitive clothes. For example, in the reliefs of the Egyptian civilizations that have survived until today, the dressing style is the rectangular peshtemal wrapped around the hips. Peshtemal, which was born as the main clothing item of mankind, has gradually both changed and diversified.
Since peshtemal, as absorbent as other towels, dries faster due to its thinness, it produces less or no bacteria in comparison with other towels. Therefore, it has also antibacterial feature. Besides occupying a small place in your bag or in your cabinet, it is a practical, elegant and environmentally friendly product.
Peshtemal is produced in two varieties, one is simple peshtemal and the other is peshtemal towel.