Discover the Bohemian Beauty of the Turkish Peshtemal
Lightweight and thin yet super absorbent, the traditional bathhouse towel finds uses throughout the house
Dating back more than 600 years to the heyday of the hammam, or Turkish bathhouse, the peshtemal is an oversize towel made of natural fibers and traditionally hand-loomed by women in the Black Sea and Aegean regions of Turkey. It’s distinguished by its fringed hem and stripes, and prized for its high absorption, quick drying time, thin profile and tendency to become softer with each washing.
Simple luxuries, many peshtemals are still made by true artisans from cotton, linen, silk and bamboo in Turkey, whose prime climate is well-known for producing some of the world’s finest textile fibers. Besides being delightful holiday gifts, the towels offer a breadth of budget decorating solutions to those who appreciate a bohemian aesthetic and want to keep some green in their wallets. Here are 10 ways to feature this timeless fabric at home.
Simple luxuries, many peshtemals are still made by true artisans from cotton, linen, silk and bamboo in Turkey, whose prime climate is well-known for producing some of the world’s finest textile fibers. Besides being delightful holiday gifts, the towels offer a breadth of budget decorating solutions to those who appreciate a bohemian aesthetic and want to keep some green in their wallets. Here are 10 ways to feature this timeless fabric at home.
2. Table runner. Folded in half and spread in rows across a table, peshtemals keep the tone organic and laid-back for everyday dining indoors and out. Cotton ones are the perfect fuss-free table coverings because they’re easily washable — they don’t take up much room in the machine and actually get softer with laundering.
3. Furniture cover. There’s no doubt that the peshtemal lends bohemian charm to any room it graces. Its unpretentious material is rarely at home in very formal settings but is just perfect for casually draping over furniture. For those on a budget, a large peshtemal or two can take the place of a slipcover or hide a multitude of crimes against upholstery. My sister uses one to add color to her basic beige apartment couch while stealthily masking a nail-polish catastrophe.
4. Bed runner. The bed is truly a decorator’s dream. There are so many possibilities for expression in the multiple layers of fabric that make up a bedding ensemble. While many traditionalists are fond of placing a duvet at the foot of their bed, those with more eclectic or minimalist tendencies will appreciate the way a peshtemal can inexpensively achieve the same layered contrast with no need for fluffing up a bulky down insert.
5. By the entryway. If you don’t have a proper mudroom, keep a peshtemal on hand for quick wipe-ups of dirt tracks or melted snow. The classic stripes will look good hanging in even the most public, high-traffic areas, and keeping your entryway sparkling clean may just become a daily habit.
6. Hand towel. A hallmark of Turkish towels is their generous size: Most are larger than a bath sheet. However, many makers also offer small dimensions suitable for hand towels and washcloths. Roll and stack them on a pretty tray or hang them in a guest bathroom for a Mediterranean boutique hotel experience.
7. Throw. Owing to its luxurious proportions, the peshtemal makes a fantastic lightweight throw. Draped over a chair, it adds softness, color and a subtle striped pattern, and imparts an international flair to the decor. Its far-flung origins appeal to worldly sophisticates and surf-shack dwellers, but we see here that it’s right at home among more traditional furnishings too.
8. Beach towel. Peshtemals are synonymous with beach vacations. Just having one around your chilly abode in December can be enough to inspire a coastal timeout. Among its many virtues is an ability to pack tightly into a suitcase, where it takes up barely more room than a ball of socks. What’s more, its versatility as a quick-drying beach towel, swimsuit coverup and scarf for windy boat rides makes it a true vacation essential.
9. In a small space. It’s not only inside a suitcase that peshtemals offer a space-saving advantage. Consider that three of them consume the same amount of room as the typical terrycloth towel, and you can see why they’re a popular choice among studio apartment dwellers with limited storage. Plus, they look perfectly chic out in the open, so there’s no need to hide them away in a dedicated linen closet.
10. Dish towel. What works well in the bath often works well in the kitchen, and the peshtemal is no exception. Wherever there’s a need for dry hands and surfaces, it trumps the competition with its quick-drying power. Plus, dozens can be stashed in a drawer, and those that are hung add mega personality to the hard surfaces, the way they do in the washroom.
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You can also find robes made in the same style and material as the peshtemal.