Pamper yourself with MicroCotton towels - a natural luxury

Have you ever stayed at a fine hotel or spa that offered incredibly soft, luxurious and absorbent towels? Although Egyptian cotton towels have long been considered the finest choice for pampering, the towel you used may actually have been made of MicroCotton™, a trademarked brand for an extremely fine, low-twist cotton yarn that has gained wide popularity since its introduction to the home textile market less than ten years ago.

“Twist” refers to the number of twists per inch of cotton yarn. The lower the number of twists in the yarn, the more plush the feel of the towel. Low-twist cotton towels offer a luxurious feel and other very attractive qualities for home use. MicroCotton™, the best known brand name of the low-twist cotton towels, was developed in India and most low-twist cotton towels are still manufactured in India.

The type of cotton fiber used to make the yarn strongly influences a towel’s final feel, absorbency and durability. Low-twist cotton fiber must be constructed of long stable cotton fibers. The low-twist manufacturing process produces finer, softer yarn, which in turn produces a softer, fluffier, more absorbent towel. (Think, for instance, of the relative absorbance of a ring of twisted cotton string, and a ball of cotton). Also, towels produced in this way won’t pill and are less likely to lint.

Sometimes called “zero-twist”, low-twist cotton towels are very light in weight but also substantial or “bulky” and are fast drying. According to the manufacturer the high loop count and the microscopic space between the fibers allow the MicroCotton™ towels to absorb so well. And, because air can pass through the fibers easily, the towel dries quite quickly.

Very importantly, MicroCotton™, towels are also considered environmentally friendly because chemicals are not used to enhance the towels’ natural characteristics. They are made in a beautiful array of colors, dyed with azo-free reactive dyes. And, because they are so light weight, more towels can be washed and dried in one load, saving water and electricity.

MicroCotton™ towels are widely available in department stores and finer retail home stores under a variety of brand names.