Turkish Cotton

What Is Turkish Cotton?

Consider Turkish cotton the Goldilocks of cotton fabric. It’s softer than “regular” cotton, but not so plush that it feels heavy like Egyptian cotton.

Long-staple Turkish cotton towels, robes and bed linens are soft and durable. They also dry quickly, so you can live a life outside the laundry room.

Read on to learn more. We’ll cover why it’s a worthwhile investment and how to care for it so your linens last for years.

Cotton fiber length depends on the growing and harvesting conditions. The longer the fiber (also known as the staple), the fewer edges it has in the woven fabric. As a result, longer fibers produce stronger and softer fabrics.

You may have heard about thread counts. However, the quality of the fibers is what gives bed and bath linens their softness and durability.

Long-staple Turkish cotton makes bed linens more plush. It also makes them less likely to fray, pill or fade than short-staple cotton. So, if you’re wondering “is Turkish cotton soft,” the answer is 100% yes.

Turkish Cotton vs. Egyptian Cotton and Other Types of Cotton

Compared to “regular” cotton, including pima, Turkish cotton feels softer and more plush due to its longer fibers.

Egyptian cotton has the longest fibers, which creates a more plush fabric than Turkish cotton. This might lead you to believe that Egyptian is the superior fabric. However, there can be too much of a good thing. Because of its density, Egyptian cotton towels and bed linens can feel heavy. Their high absorbency also means they can take extra long to dry.

In contrast, long-staple Turkish cotton fibers produce a lightweight fabric that doesn’t absorb as much water. Because they dry faster, Turkish cotton bath linens are less likely to stay damp after a drying cycle. That reduces the chance for mildew to form, so your towels and robes don’t get that musty smell.

A Brief History: From the Ottoman Empire to Today

Turkish cotton, unsurprisingly, comes from Turkey. But to understand why it’s such a treasured fabric, you’ll have to go back — way back — to the Ottoman Empire.

Turkey was once part of the vast Ottoman Empire. Osman I founded the empire at the end of the 13th century, and a long line of Sultans ruled it.

For hundreds of years, the Ottoman court reserved fine textiles for royalty, so they had to be of the highest quality. As a result, the region developed a lasting reputation for the finest fabrics, which continues to this day.

But not all of it is the same. Turkey has three major cotton regions: the Aegean region in the west, the Cukurova region in the south and the Eastern Mediterranean region. Cotton from the Aegean region stands out for its quality because it has a longer staple than cotton from the other regions.

What Are the Benefits of Turkish Cotton?

If you enjoy towels and robes that feel soft and smell fresh, this is the ideal fabric for you. These luxury bath linens are plush and absorbent, leaving you feeling fresh and clean.

Whatever your comfort level or style, check out these benefits when you choose bath and bed linens for your home.

Turkish Cotton Towels

When investing in a high-quality towel, you really can’t beat Turkish cotton towels. They’re plush and long-lasting — and you don’t need to spend all day drying them.

One excellent choice is our best-selling Luxury Jacquard Turkish Cotton Towels. They weigh 550 grams per square meter (GSM), which gives them a plush, hotel-weight feel.

Do you prefer certified organic cotton? Then look into our Organic Luxury Jacquard Border Towels. At 600 GSM, they are our heaviest jacquard towels, with a raised border woven right into the terry. Their long-staple fibers also keep them soft, absorbent and long-lasting.

Robes for Year-Round Comfort

The fabric’s lighter weight makes it the ideal fiber for robes you can snuggle into year-round. They’re plush enough to quickly absorb moisture from your skin (goodbye, shivers!). Yet they’re light enough to wear comfortably on a balmy day.

Maybe you like to wrap yourself up in one right out of the shower. Or maybe you’d rather lounge around while sipping your morning coffee. Either way, get lost in a plush Soft Terry Cotton Robe. You can also choose an elegant Luxury Jacquard Robe, or re-create the ultimate spa experience in a textured Waffle Pique Spa Robe.