ARTICLE - Preserving the art of the Turkish towel - Jennifer's Hamam

Excerpt from Article:
" ... The thick looped towel we know today also originated in Turkey, and has its origins in the palaces of the Ottoman Empire.  Prior to the Ottomans, towels were strictly flat-woven pieces of cloth. Because bathing had a ceremonial role within the palace, the ladies of the court would often demand more intricate and elegant designs from the weavers.  After a century of ever increasing intricacy, weavers introduced a new technique by looping a second thread along the length of the loom.  These loops gradually were used to create patterns or designs, and in some cases, covered the entire towel. ..."