World conquer of terry toweling, from 007's wardrobe to tennis courts
In the small town of Droylsden, near Manchester, England, a significant invention took place in 1848. Samuel Holt, a local innovator, created a mechanized loom that revolutionized the towel industry. This loom was capable of weaving terry towelling with loops of uncut thread, enhancing the fabric's absorbency and comfort[1].
Credit for this invention goes to Holt, although it was patented by his employers shortly after the first toweling loom was produced. The towels, dubbed 'Royal Turkish Towels', quickly gained recognition and even caught the eye of Queen Victoria. A letter from St James's Palace, written on April 15, 1851, at the command of the Mistress of the Robes, requested six Dozens of these towels[1].
The inspiration for Holt's invention may have stemmed from earlier Turkish towels, but the British industrial twist was a game-changer in towel manufacturing[1]. Henry Christy, an employee of Holt's, was inspired by his travels in Ottoman Turkey where he encountered handwoven towels.
The popularity of terry towelling continued to grow, and it was not long before the fabric found its way into the world of sports and fashion. By the mid-20th century, terry towelling wristbands and headbands were a common sight on squash and tennis courts. In the following decade, the fabric made its way into modern clothing, such as jogging pants, hoodies, tracksuits, and towelling variants.
The terry-towelling romper suit became a defining piece of fashion in the 1960s, as seen in the 1964 Goldfinger film, where Sean Connery's Bond character donned the suit as a practical coverup for his bathing trunks. The film replaced a stipulated dark blue tropical worsted suit with this casual yet stylish alternative.
In the 1980s, the film Flashdance sparked a craze for towelling headbands. Today, terry towelling remains a common choice for bathing and post-exercise clothing, as well as for those seeking a comfortable, absorbent fabric. Fashion brands like Orla Keily have even designed terry-towelling sun hats, ensuring that this iconic fabric remains relevant in the world of fashion.
Despite its British popularity, it's worth noting that terry towelling was not a British nor Victorian invention. The fabric's origins can be traced back to the Ottoman Empire. However, Holt's invention and the Queen's endorsement ensured that terry towelling became synonymous with British innovation and quality.
[1] Source: www.towelradar.com/history-of-terry-towelling/
Holt's invention of the terry towelling loom, which revolutionized the towel industry, eventually influenced the fashion-and-beauty world, as terry towelling became a popular choice for athletic clothing and accessories like wristbands and headbands by the mid-20th century.Home-and-garden enthusiasts also found appeal in terry towelling, with fashion brands like Orla Keily designing terry-towelling sun hats, demonstrating the fabric's persistence as a relevant and stylish option in the lifestyle realm.
