SOTM – The real purpose of those mysterious lines on towels! – Story Of The Day!

SOTM – The Real Purpose of Those Mysterious Lines on Towels

Story Of The Day

Have you ever stepped out of the shower, reached for a towel, and—without really thinking—rubbed your hands across those strange horizontal lines near the ends?

You know the ones.

They’re usually woven a little tighter. Sometimes raised. Sometimes flatter. Always there. On bath towels, hand towels, even guest towels you only bring out when someone you want to impress comes over.

And at some point—maybe today, maybe years ago—you paused and wondered:

Why are those lines even there?

Are they decorative?
Are they functional?
Are they a relic from some ancient towel tradition we’ve all agreed not to question?

Welcome to today’s Story Of The Day, where we unravel the surprisingly rich, practical, historical, and slightly hilarious truth behind the mysterious lines on towels—a design detail you’ve seen thousands of times but probably never truly noticed.

The Universal Towel Mystery

Towels are one of the most universal objects in human life. Regardless of culture, climate, or century, humans have always needed a way to dry themselves. Yet towels rarely get the respect they deserve.

They’re just… there.

Folded.
Hung.
Thrown over chairs.
Forgotten in gym bags.
Occasionally used to block the crack under a door during a very dramatic argument.

But those lines?

They are everywhere.

And what makes them fascinating is this: almost every towel has them, yet almost no one knows why.

Ask around.

Some people will confidently say:

“It’s for decoration.”

“It helps with folding.”

“It’s to hang them better.”

“It’s just how towels are made.”

All reasonable guesses.
All partially wrong.

The truth is way more interesting.

First Things First: What Are Those Lines Actually Called?

Before we go any further, let’s give the mystery a name.

Those woven bands near the top and bottom of a towel are called dobby borders.

Yes—dobby.

(No, not the house-elf, though he would absolutely appreciate a good towel.)

A dobby border is a tightly woven strip created on a dobby loom—a type of textile loom that allows small, geometric patterns and dense weaving.

And here’s the key point:

They are not just decorative.

Not even close.

The Practical Purpose Nobody Talks About

Let’s start with the biggest myth:

❌ “They’re just for looks.”

If towel manufacturers only wanted decoration, they’d choose something far simpler—and cheaper.

Continue reading…