When we think of bath towels, we generally think of terry towels – made from cotton with little loops for fluffiness and extra absorbency. There are two main South African made brands available.

Colibri offers a wide variety of plain and embroidered towels. You can buy directly from their 7 factory shops in the Western Cape or from a further 4 in the Eastern Cape.

Glodina Black Label sells various towel ranges for home, sport, babies and the hospitality industry. They have factory shops in 3 provinces, so you can buy them at bargain prices.

Many of the towels sold by Woolworths are also made in South Africa, but check the label.

Sadly, most of the towels sold by @home are NOT made in South Africa. The Guesthouse range as well as the bamboo towels are from Portugal. Only the Everyday towels are made in South Africa (by Glodina). Many of the other towels come from India.

Prior to the invention of the terry towel, people used woven towels with different patterns and colours and there is something of a woven towel revival underway.

Mungo is a fabric weaving label from Plettenberg Bay. Towels are just one resulting product from their ‘capturing threads’ designs. They sell 100% cotton towels, as well as cotton/linen and cotton/bamboo blended towels. There are different patterns and colours, all very simple but beautiful, and the choice of fabric influences softness and absorbency. Everyone I have spoken to who has used their towels raves about them. I have one of their facecloths and I love the feel of it. Why not expand your towel range with some traditional weaves? You might just end up with one of their homespun linen products woven on an antique loom.