Japanese Imabari Towel - Panda

Japanese Imabari towel, 100% cotton, with panda embroidery

This panda towel is woven in Imabari, on the island of Shikoku, where terry towelling has been produced since 1894. Today, more than half of all Japanese towels are made in this town. This craftsmanship owes much to the water of the River Soja, which is naturally low in calcium, preserving the cotton’s softness during both weaving and dyeing.

This Imabari towel is reversible: one side is made of lightweight gauze, the other of terry cloth made from untwisted yarn, which absorbs water very quickly. It has been designed with children in mind, featuring a square shape that’s easy to hold, a coloured bias binding around the edge and a loop for hanging it on the hook at school. A Japanese towel that makes a lovely gift for a young panda fan, and one that grown-ups will happily slip into their sports bag.