Flat stripes on your towels have a purpose: What is a dobby border?
Almost every classic terry towel has a dobby border, but few people know what it is for (collage: Styler)
Terry towels can often have one or more flat stripes near the shorter edges. Many people mistake them for ordinary decorative elements, but this detail has its own name and is related to the textile manufacturing process.
RBC-Ukraine explains what the stripes on towels are for and what practical purpose they serve.
What the stripes on terry towels mean
The flat strip near the edge of a towel is called a dobby border. You can recognize it by its different texture: instead of the raised loops covering most of the towel, this section has a tighter, flatter weave.
As Good Housekeeping explains, these stripes are usually located near the shorter edges of a towel. They can be narrow or wide and consist of one or several lines.
The name comes from the dobby weaving technique. It lets you create small geometric patterns, raised lines, and other designs during fabric manufacturing. In other words, the pattern isn't simply printed onto a finished towel; it's formed through a special arrangement of woven threads.
Why these stripes are near the edges
The dobby border serves more than just a decorative purpose. It creates an area with a different weave structure from the main terry fabric. According to Good Housekeeping, this construction adds structure to the towel, helps it retain its shape, and reduces the risk of the edges unraveling.
However, this feature does not always improve durability. In the scientific study Evaluation of Performance Properties in Woven Terry Towel by Multi Response Optimization, researchers examined uneven shrinkage in different sections of terry towels. In particular, the border may shrink differently from the main fabric. As a result, the edges can sometimes pull inward, causing the towel to lose its original shape.
Another drawback is that this section absorbs less water. The main part of a terry towel has loops that increase surface area and help retain moisture. The flat stripe has far fewer loops or none at all.
Can we use a towel without these stripes?
A dobby border isn't required for a high-quality towel. Towels without one can also absorb moisture well, remain soft, and withstand prolonged use.
A decorative stripe alone does not guarantee durability. When choosing towels, more important factors include fiber composition, fabric density, yarn and stitching quality, and how the towel holds up after repeated washing.
One indicator to check is GSM (grams per square meter), which measures fabric weight per unit area. Lighter towels generally dry faster, while heavier ones may be denser and retain moisture longer. The scientific review, Functional Properties of Terry Towels, notes that a higher GSM value alone does not guarantee better water absorption. Fiber composition, terry loop structure, and manufacturing methods also play a role.
