Louis Vuitton City Guide
Jennifer's Hamam
Arasta Bazaar no. 135, Sultanahmet
Tel 0212 516 30 22
www.jennifershamam.com
Open daily 8:30am to 8:30pm
TOWEL, BATH LINEN
Located in the venerable Arasta Bazaar, this unusual shop is owned by Jennifer Gaudet, a Canadian expatriate who became fascinated by Turkish textile traditions. The shop sells handwoven terry towels and pestamel (Turkish bath towels) with traditional patterns that have been updated or reworked in pastel shades. They are made in the Anatolian villages that Gaudet has personally visited since 2009 in her search for traditions on the verge of extinction. Handmade, most often on old-style-shuttled looms, the textiles are coloured with natural dyes, which means that each dye bath creates a unique range. Cotton items are certified organic, and towels and exfoliating gloves come in different sizes, colours (linen grey, pale pink, muted turquoise, etc.) and thicknesses. Special orders are accepted, and alterations or a custom robe can be made by the in-house tailor while you do your shopping nearby.
Pestamel from Jennifer's Hamam The pestamel is a kind of flat woven towel traditionally used in Turkish baths. They are super absorbent and dry quickly, making them ideal for use at home as well. At her store in the Arasta Bazaar, expat Canadian Jennifer Gaudet sources handwoven, natural dyed pestamels from Anatolian villages, helping to keep the tradition alive. There are even organic cotton options.
