My daughter had just gotten back from a trip to my hometown, a small town in Rajasthan, India. She walked out of the shower one morning, raised an eyebrow at our thick towels, and promptly asked me what business I had abandoning our traditional thin towels in hot and humid Singapore. Water is in short supply in the desert state and thin towels are the only way to go. Meanwhile, thick towels end up using more water and detergent, then needing higher heat in the dryer; attempting to line dry thick towels in this humid weather is a losing battle. Wasteful in every way, she said.
Thus was my wake up call, and swapping out our towels was the first step in my journey through a lifestyle change.
I scoured the net looking for thin woven cotton towels and came across a small Social Enterprise called Looms & Weaves in India. I decided to buy from them. Handwoven towels are a specialty of South India, and there are so many varieties and weaves available. My choice was simple, all white! Since travel between India and Singapore is a constant in my home, getting them here was never an issue. The set of 5 towels came with a small thank you note explaining their operations. It was at that moment that I truly became aware of how many women weavers there are in the industry.
The learning did not stop there.
From the moment I used the towels, I was hooked. Lightweight and extremely quick to dry, they are perfect for my needs. The more they are used and washed, the more absorbent they become. They require little space to store, which is a huge plus point. I even travel with them now and no longer use the thick towels. My first sustainable swap, and easy on the pocket too!
For the uninitiated, thin cotton towels can take some getting used to, but it's worth a try as the comfort grows with use and there are so many choices out there. There are organic options, and the bamboo and flax fabrics too. Turkish Peshtemals are a stunning addition to the bathroom, if you are looking for options that are functional and aesthetic. Handloom towels have an earthy and simple touch to them, which I personally love!
I have found no articles online, so far, citing the environmental impact of laundry, and the upkeep of thick towels as compared to thin towels. It's quite strange because, for years now, nearly every hotel has adopted the policy that allows guests to reuse towels and send them for wash only when necessary as a way to save the planet by saving fresh water – a finite resource. Also, it's really just common sense if you ask me.
In so many ways, I am retracing the steps back to my childhood. These beautiful, simple towels we once used had been forgotten and replaced with thicker towels.
No more.
It’s been 4 years since I made the shift and I haven’t looked back since. Better yet, I am still on my first set of five! At the end of their life cycle, I intend to neatly cut them up into small squares and used as cleaning rags!