When stepping into the world of textiles, especially towels, you'll quickly encounter a specialized vocabulary used by manufacturers, distributors, and buyers. If you're new to the industry, this terminology may seem unfamiliar compared to everyday retail language. To help you get up to speed, we've compiled a list of 15 essential textile terms to guide you through your buying journey.

Construction

GSM: GSM (grams per square meter) measures the thickness and density of a towel's terry cloth. It's a key quality indicator, with higher GSM values often signifying a more plush towel. For example, a towel with a 350 GSM is ideal for institutional settings like correctional facilities, while the luxurious Towel Collection, with a 600 GSM, is suited for high-end hotels. To easily determine GSM, use our GSM calculator.

Yarn Count: Yarn count refers to the thickness of the yarn used in a towel. Higher yarn counts indicate finer, softer textiles. Towels with a high yarn count are thicker and offer superior comfort, making them ideal for premium hospitality environments.

Warp and Weft: Warp and weft are the foundation of fabric weaving. Warp yarns run vertically, while weft yarns run horizontally. Together, they create the towel's base structure. Towels also feature a third component—pile yarn that adds plushness and thickness, enhancing absorbency and softness.

Pile: The pile is what gives towels their soft, plush feel. Pile yarns determine the towel's texture and weight and are woven perpendicular to the warp and weft. For example, blended towels might feature polyester yarn in the warp and weft for added durability, with cotton yarn in the pile for softness.

Yarn Manufacturing

Single-Ply Yarn: Single-ply yarn consists of a single strand. It's often noted as "1S," indicating one strand. When strands are twisted together, a new yarn with different characteristics is created. For example, a yarn made from 21 strands is labeled as 21S.

Double-Ply Yarn: Double-ply yarn (D) is created by twisting two single-ply yarns together. This process adds strength and weight to the towel. For instance, two strands of 1S (one-single) yarn form a 1D (one-double) yarn, adding durability.

Ring-Spun Yarn: Ring spun yarn comes from long-staple cotton fibers that undergo combing and carding to stretch the fibers. This extra refinement process creates a softer, more durable fabric for premium textiles. Towels made from ring spun yarn provide superior comfort and longevity.

Open-End Yarn: In contrast, open-end yarn uses shorter cotton fibers, producing a coarser texture. While less expensive, open-end yarn is less soft and durable than ring spun yarn. It's commonly used in institutional towels where cost-efficiency is a priority.

Spun Polyester: Spun polyester is a high-performance fiber that combines softness with durability. It's often used in hospitality linens and blended with cotton to create towels that are easy to launder and wrinkle-resistant. Spun polyester towels offer high efficiency and performance.

Microfiber: Microfiber is an ultra-fine synthetic fiber that's revolutionized cleaning. With moisture-wicking properties and the ability to trap dust and bacteria, microfiber is ideal for personal and professional use. It's also incredibly soft, perfect for bath towels and facial cloths.The versatility of microfiber is evident in our extensive collection of towels and cleaning tools designed to meet various industry needs.

Design Techniques

Yarn-dyed: Yarn-dyed refers to a process of dying yarn before it is woven into fabric. This technique ensures vibrant, long-lasting colors. Below customized towel are yarn-dyed, providing rich hues that stand up to frequent use and laundering.

Dobby Border: A dobby border adds decorative flair to a towel, often featuring intricate patterns and weaves. The border can be weaved at the end of the towel or  about 5~15cm from the towel edge,teh border makes the towel looks more stylish ,and can be customized embroidery a logo on the towel border, adding elegance to any towel presentation.

Embossed Jacquard Weave:Embossed Jacquard weave  refers to weave the designs, patterns, text, monograms or logos into the fabric texture during the production of the bathrobe/towel fabrics via computerized digital pattern-making. The Embossed/ Jacquard has sense of concavo-convex texture, which enhances the product’s premium feel !

Navigate Towel-Buying with Confidence

Understanding these textile terms will help you use the proper teminology and confidently navigate the towel-buying process to ensure you select the right products for your needs. Explore our full range of textiles at Lixintex and experience the difference that quality makes. We're committed to your success.

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