Description
A peshtemal is a flat-woven Turkish cotton wrap used in the hammam, at the beach and as a bath towel. This block-striped peshtemal is woven from 100% Turkish cotton in Denizli, Turkey, with a lightly crinkled texture, stripes in soft washed colors and fringe on the short edges. It measures 35 × 71 in (90 × 180 cm), one piece per pack, and is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
What Is a Peshtemal?
A peshtemal (pronounced "pesh-te-mahl") is a traditional Turkish hamam towel — flat-woven, lightweight, and deeply absorbent. Originally used in Ottoman bathhouses for centuries, peshtemals have become a favorite of travelers, minimalists, and anyone who appreciates simple, functional beauty. One peshtemal does the job of three regular towels: beach towel, bath towel, scarf, picnic blanket, travel throw.
"A peshtemal travels better than any towel I know. It dries in an hour, weighs nothing, and it looks good whether you're at the beach or drying dishes in your kitchen."
— Head Weaver, Babadağ Village Workshop
Why Striped Peshtemals Are Special
The stripes aren't just decoration — they're a signature of traditional Turkish craftsmanship. Each stripe is woven into the fabric itself (not printed), using different colored yarns on the loom. The pattern tells you this was made by someone who knows what they're doing. No shortcuts, no printing, just real weaving.
- Handwoven in Denizli — 2,500-year textile heritage
- 100% long-staple Turkish cotton — softer, stronger, more absorbent
- Flat-weave construction — the signature peshtemal lightweight feel
- Woven stripes — never fade, never peel
- Quick-drying — no musty smell, no mildew
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified
The Denizli Way
Our peshtemals come from Denizli, where weavers still work on traditional looms. The combination of pure spring water, long-staple cotton from the Aegean region, and generations of weaving knowledge goes into every peshtemal.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifies that the product meets the standard's limit values for harmful substances.
A Peshtemal's Many Lives
- 🛁 Bath towel — absorbs fast, dries faster
- 🏖️ Beach towel — sand shakes off easily because the weave is flat; packs small
- ♨️ Spa & hamam — the original hamam towel
- ✈️ Travel — weighs next to nothing, dries in an hour
- 🍽️ Kitchen cloth — elegant and practical
- 🧣 Scarf or shawl — lightweight layer for cool evenings
- 🧺 Picnic blanket — pack flat, spread wide
Sizes
Traditional peshtemal size: 35" × 71" (90 × 180 cm), one piece per pack — the classic Turkish hamam proportion. Large enough to wrap around your body, small enough to fold into a pocket.
Care Instructions
- Machine wash cold with similar colors
- Tumble dry low or hang to dry (peshtemals love air drying)
- Iron on medium if desired — brings out the soft luster
- Do not use fabric softener (reduces absorbency)
- No bleach
- The cotton will bloom and soften with each wash
Size & Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | 100% Turkish cotton |
| Weave | Flat weave (no terry loops), lightly crinkled texture with block stripes |
| Size (in) | 35 × 71 |
| Size (cm) | 90 × 180 |
| Pieces per pack | 1 |
| Colors | 5: Blue Striped, Green Striped, Black Striped, Red Striped, Brown Striped |
| Edge finish | Fringe on the short edges |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
| Made in | Denizli, Turkey |
| Care | Machine wash cold with similar colors; tumble dry low or hang to dry; iron on medium if desired; no fabric softener |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a peshtemal and a towel?
A peshtemal is flat-woven with no terry loops, so it is thinner and lighter than a terry towel, dries faster and folds flat. It is used as a bath towel, beach towel or hammam wrap, while a terry towel feels plusher and thicker.
Is a peshtemal absorbent?
Yes. The 100% Turkish cotton absorbs water well for drying off after a bath, a swim or the hammam. It looks thinner than terry but dries much faster.
Will the stripes fade?
The stripes are woven in with dyed yarns, not printed, so they do not peel or crack. Wash with similar colors in cold water to keep them bright.
What size is this peshtemal?
It measures 35 × 71 in (90 × 180 cm), one piece per pack. That is large enough to wrap around the body or to use as a bath or beach towel.
Where is it made and where does the cotton come from?
It is woven in Denizli, Turkey, from 100% Turkish cotton grown in the Aegean region. It is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
How do I wash a peshtemal?
Machine wash cold with similar colors, then tumble dry low or hang to dry. Iron on medium if desired, and skip fabric softener because it reduces absorbency.
Tradition Meets Modern Life
Explore our full peshtemal collection in different stripe patterns and colors. Or see our waffle weave towels if you prefer textured absorbency.
Handwoven in Denizli, Turkey. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. 100% long-staple Turkish cotton.
Handwoven Turkish Cotton Striped Peshtemal Towel - OEKO-TEX
- Free US shipping on orders over $49 · $9.90 below
- FedEx 2–3 business days — tracked, door to door
- Duties & taxes included (DDP) — no surprise charges
Woven in Denizli · 2,500 years of craft
Description
A peshtemal is a flat-woven Turkish cotton wrap used in the hammam, at the beach and as a bath towel. This block-striped peshtemal is woven from 100% Turkish cotton in Denizli, Turkey, with a lightly crinkled texture, stripes in soft washed colors and fringe on the short edges. It measures 35 × 71 in (90 × 180 cm), one piece per pack, and is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
What Is a Peshtemal?
A peshtemal (pronounced "pesh-te-mahl") is a traditional Turkish hamam towel — flat-woven, lightweight, and deeply absorbent. Originally used in Ottoman bathhouses for centuries, peshtemals have become a favorite of travelers, minimalists, and anyone who appreciates simple, functional beauty. One peshtemal does the job of three regular towels: beach towel, bath towel, scarf, picnic blanket, travel throw.
"A peshtemal travels better than any towel I know. It dries in an hour, weighs nothing, and it looks good whether you're at the beach or drying dishes in your kitchen."
— Head Weaver, Babadağ Village Workshop
Why Striped Peshtemals Are Special
The stripes aren't just decoration — they're a signature of traditional Turkish craftsmanship. Each stripe is woven into the fabric itself (not printed), using different colored yarns on the loom. The pattern tells you this was made by someone who knows what they're doing. No shortcuts, no printing, just real weaving.
- Handwoven in Denizli — 2,500-year textile heritage
- 100% long-staple Turkish cotton — softer, stronger, more absorbent
- Flat-weave construction — the signature peshtemal lightweight feel
- Woven stripes — never fade, never peel
- Quick-drying — no musty smell, no mildew
- OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified
The Denizli Way
Our peshtemals come from Denizli, where weavers still work on traditional looms. The combination of pure spring water, long-staple cotton from the Aegean region, and generations of weaving knowledge goes into every peshtemal.
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 Certified
OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certifies that the product meets the standard's limit values for harmful substances.
A Peshtemal's Many Lives
- 🛁 Bath towel — absorbs fast, dries faster
- 🏖️ Beach towel — sand shakes off easily because the weave is flat; packs small
- ♨️ Spa & hamam — the original hamam towel
- ✈️ Travel — weighs next to nothing, dries in an hour
- 🍽️ Kitchen cloth — elegant and practical
- 🧣 Scarf or shawl — lightweight layer for cool evenings
- 🧺 Picnic blanket — pack flat, spread wide
Sizes
Traditional peshtemal size: 35" × 71" (90 × 180 cm), one piece per pack — the classic Turkish hamam proportion. Large enough to wrap around your body, small enough to fold into a pocket.
Care Instructions
- Machine wash cold with similar colors
- Tumble dry low or hang to dry (peshtemals love air drying)
- Iron on medium if desired — brings out the soft luster
- Do not use fabric softener (reduces absorbency)
- No bleach
- The cotton will bloom and soften with each wash
Size & Specifications
| Spec | Detail |
|---|---|
| Material | 100% Turkish cotton |
| Weave | Flat weave (no terry loops), lightly crinkled texture with block stripes |
| Size (in) | 35 × 71 |
| Size (cm) | 90 × 180 |
| Pieces per pack | 1 |
| Colors | 5: Blue Striped, Green Striped, Black Striped, Red Striped, Brown Striped |
| Edge finish | Fringe on the short edges |
| Certification | OEKO-TEX Standard 100 |
| Made in | Denizli, Turkey |
| Care | Machine wash cold with similar colors; tumble dry low or hang to dry; iron on medium if desired; no fabric softener |
Frequently Asked Questions
What is the difference between a peshtemal and a towel?
A peshtemal is flat-woven with no terry loops, so it is thinner and lighter than a terry towel, dries faster and folds flat. It is used as a bath towel, beach towel or hammam wrap, while a terry towel feels plusher and thicker.
Is a peshtemal absorbent?
Yes. The 100% Turkish cotton absorbs water well for drying off after a bath, a swim or the hammam. It looks thinner than terry but dries much faster.
Will the stripes fade?
The stripes are woven in with dyed yarns, not printed, so they do not peel or crack. Wash with similar colors in cold water to keep them bright.
What size is this peshtemal?
It measures 35 × 71 in (90 × 180 cm), one piece per pack. That is large enough to wrap around the body or to use as a bath or beach towel.
Where is it made and where does the cotton come from?
It is woven in Denizli, Turkey, from 100% Turkish cotton grown in the Aegean region. It is OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified.
How do I wash a peshtemal?
Machine wash cold with similar colors, then tumble dry low or hang to dry. Iron on medium if desired, and skip fabric softener because it reduces absorbency.
Tradition Meets Modern Life
Explore our full peshtemal collection in different stripe patterns and colors. Or see our waffle weave towels if you prefer textured absorbency.
Handwoven in Denizli, Turkey. OEKO-TEX Standard 100 certified. 100% long-staple Turkish cotton.