Get in touch with usHere’s something most people don’t know: the towel as we know it today was born in Türkiye — and it wasn’t just about staying dry.
In the Ottoman Empire, bathing wasn’t a chore — it was a full-blown cultural event. The Sultans and Sultanesses didn’t just bathe, they basked. And they expected their weavers to keep up. As royal tastes became more elaborate, weavers were pushed to innovate — not just in pattern, but in form.
That’s when something remarkable happened.
In the 17th century, Ottoman weavers invented the “looping technique.”
Before that, towels were just flat pieces of woven cloth (like pestamels — still amazing, by the way). But with this new technique, small decorative loops were added. At first, it was flair — a touch of texture here and there. But over time, the loops spread across the entire surface… and revolutionized towel design forever.
Today, machine-made towels can mimic the general look, but they can’t replicate the structure. Why? Because true looped towels, when woven on traditional shuttle looms, form an entirely different architecture. Stronger. More durable. Incredibly absorbent. And unlike anything that comes off a factory line.
At Jennifer’s Hamam, we are proud to be the only company in the world still working with weavers who make these towels the traditional way — by hand, on looms. It’s not just history — it’s living, drying, luxury.