What on earth is that thick, flat woven band near the edge of a towel for? It seems pretty useless and just ruins the overall softness of the towel.

        In reality, these patterns are called a "Dobby Border," or a fabric support band. Its main job is to reinforce the towel's structure, helping it hold its shape even after countless washes, while also helping the towel dry faster. Plus, these patterns making the towels look beautifully neat when folded and stacked together.

        And here’s another secret behind that fluffy towel: fabric softener is actually a towel's number one enemy! The thin layer of fat that fabric softener leaves behind to create that soft feel winds up coating the fibers. This drastically reduces the towel's absorbency, makes it dry slower, and turns it into a magnet for musty odors.

Written, translated, and illustrated by: Ratchanok T.