It might seem simple, but a really good towel, like a really good set of sheets, makes a difference. High quality materials that offer a soft hand feel but doesn’t skimp on absorbency is the key. But for all the luxury that a new towel brings, there’s nothing worse than when they start to get rough and scratchy.
Hommey Founder (and chief comfort officer) Justin Kestelman has the solution. “Here’s our secret sauce: warm machine wash, with little to no detergent but add white vinegar. A warm tumble dry is recommended,” he says. “Using detergent is not recommended because it coats the fibres of the towel and gives that ‘crispy’ effect after washing.” Some people also swear by adding tennis balls into your dryer to help maintain the fluffy feel.
Kobn
Textile designer Sophie Matson launched Kobn in 2017 with a range of thoughtfully designed towels. The brand has since expanded to include interior accessories, such as candles, incense and cushions that echo the same artisanal sentiment. But it’s the collection of earth-hued bathroom essentials that keep us coming back. Fill your linen cupboard with Turkish-made pieces in organic cotton, which are finished with contrasting stripes and raw fringing. This season, we’re obsessing over bold primary hues that add a splash of colour to your bathroom and your beach bag.Bed Threads
Genevieve Rosen-Biller founded Bed Threads in 2017 after not being able to find quality sheets in colours that she loved. A few years later, the brand applied the same principles to bathroom essentials, launching a range of French flax linen towels to complement your linen cupboard. The lightweight waffle styles are quick-drying and soften with age. Buy them bundled in colours like olive and sage green, charcoal and rust.Sheet Society
Melbourne brand Sheet Society might be best-known for bedding. But its new bath additions hit a similar sweet spot of playful yet practical. Towels, bath mats and more are made from weighty combed cotton in a range of pastel and neutral colours designed to complement each other.Baina
Antipodean brand Baina set a new standard for towels when it launched in 2019. Signature chequered styles, made in Portugal, are seen strewn across city beaches and maximalist bathrooms alike. The growing range of striped and textured pieces caters to all interiors – the common thread is sustainably sourced cotton terry that dries well and elevates everyday rituals. The brand added bath robes to its offering last year; good luck getting dressed in the morning now.Laze Res
Designed in Noosa, Laze Res towels are created with the design lover in mind. As chic as they are absorbent, they have a soft and plush hand feel that is complemented by an artful embossed finish. The bathe collection arrives in a neutral hue that will suit most rooms. But there’s nothing stopping you from using the beach and styles inside the house to bring a vacation state of mind to daily routines.Cultiver
Designed in Sydney, Cultiver uses quality flax linen and organic to produce its bathroom collection. Elegant, natural colours fit in with contemporary finishes, while some pieces offer delicate fringes for a homey touch. A small range of recycled denim towels (which are produced in Portugal) speak to a sustainable ethos, which underpins the brand’s entire home offering. These styles offer a weightier hand feel at 500gsm but still dry quickly.Hommey
Hommey’s beach towels and robes have become firm favourites from the brand, but the extended bathroom range now includes sumptuous bath sheets, classic towels, face washers and hand towels in 11 colours. Each piece is made from a dense 700gsm cotton that is super absorbent, so you’ll be dry in no time. Long piles give an extra soft hand feel that’s like a hug.Loop Home
Softness is the selling point for Loop Home. Made from organic cotton, the plush collection comes in a range of sizes with simple geometric motifs in colours like terracotta and stone. The generous bath sheet brings a little luxury to mornings. Plus, the brand’s logo label doubles as a loop to hang your towel to dry.Aura Home
Melbourne brand Aura Home offers a range of Greek Island-inspired towels; styles like the Milos and Paros are finished with hand-knotted fringes. The luxurious cotton designs also come in swaddling bath sheets, hand towels and bath mats so you can create plush matching sets.Saarde
Sydney lifestyle brand Saarde delivers elevated simplicity through its collection of home and body products. And its towels are a real treat. Woven pieces bring subtle texture to your bathroom while maintaining softness and absorbency thanks to premium Turkish cotton. Mix and match sets in vintage-washed colours or opt for its textured chickpea finish.Sheridan
An Australian staple for towels, Sheridan continues to provide high quality materials and classic finishes. The current collection includes luxe Egyptian cotton, ribbed quick-dry styles and combed Turkish cotton pieces in a range of colours. Vibrant beach towels are also worth adding to your linen cupboard as the seasons turn.Quoin
Quoin’s collection of luxury Turkish towels made from organic cotton bring a dose of personality to bathrooms (as well as kitchens and pool decks). Crafted with laid-back beach houses in mind, the thick loop styles are handmade, meaning no two are the same. If you’ve stayed at Sagres in Queenscliff, Victoria or Crayshack on Flinders Island in Tasmania, you might have wrapped yourselves up in one after an outdoor shower or bath.Sage & Clare
Linen cupboard essentials don’t have to be boring; add Sage & Clare’s colourful bath sheets, tongue-in-cheek Nudie Rudie bath mats and floral face washers into the mix to brighten things up. Soft terry and woven waffle textures feel dreamy against the skin. And no one will be confused about whose towel is whose if you take the brand’s signature mix-and-match approach to kitting out your bathroom.In Bed
Out of bed, In Bed’s bath collection is just as chic as its beloved sheets and throws. Made from organic cotton, the Sydney brand’s range comes in plain and striped iterations each season. Matching robes round out the bath collection – it's time to dial up the self-care routine.Loom Towels
Designed in Melbourne and hand-woven in Turkey, Loom makes limited-edition collections that embody luxury. Working with GOTS-certified organic cotton and natural linen, the brand champions untreated, unbleached and non-coated fibres when it comes to dying and pre-washing. Each piece is finished with signature hand-tied fringes and tassels.Yoli
En Gold’s sister brand Yoli offers sumptuous additions to your towel rack. At 800gsm, these plush styles come in three classic colours: snow white, forest green and sand beige. Shop individual pieces or choose a set, which includes two generous-sized bath towels, as well as a coordinating hand towel and bath mat.House of Nunu
Brighten up your bathroom with House of Nunu’s signature checked styles in a rainbow of hues. The collection of bath and hand towels are made from 550gsm cotton that’s favoured for its soft, absorbent nature. Mix-and-match your set or keep things tonal – they’re perfect for everything showers.Mayde
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Aussie label Mayde offers a collection of hand-loomed towels that bring a playful disposition. Made in Turkey from organically produced Buldan cotton, the range has retro-inspired patterns, muted pastels and bold colour fixes. The generous sizes are perfect for wrapping up in post swim or shower.Shop more of our favourite beach towels for plush post-dip styles.
This story was first published on 19 September, 2023 and has since been updated.
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