Sourcing in bulk? Start with our terry and bath towel manufacturers in Karur page.
Terry is one of the most important fabrics in home textiles, yet it is often confused with French terry, velour or simply “cotton”. This guide explains what terry cloth is, how it is made, the main types, how it compares with velour and French terry, and what to specify when you source terry products in bulk.
What Is Terry Cloth?
Terry cloth is woven with two sets of warp yarns. One set forms the flat ground fabric; the other, called the pile warp, is woven loosely so that it forms loops on the surface. These uncut loops trap and hold water, which is why terry cloth fabric is so absorbent.
Terry is usually described by its weight in grams per square metre (GSM). Light terry, around 300 to 400 GSM, dries fast and suits kitchen, gym and guest towels. Medium terry, around 450 to 550 GSM, suits everyday bath towels. Heavy terry, around 600 GSM and above, feels plush and is used for premium and hotel towels.
What Is Terry Cloth Used For?
- Bath, hand and face towels, and bath sheets
- Bathrobes and spa robes
- Bath mats
- Beach and pool towels
- Kitchen and hand towels
- Baby products such as hooded towels and bibs
Types of Terry Cloth
| Type | What it means | Feel and use |
|---|---|---|
| Single-loop terry | Loops on one side only | Lighter; kitchen towels, robe linings |
| Double-loop terry | Loops on both sides | Most bath and hotel towels |
| Zero-twist terry | Pile yarn with little or no twist | Very soft and absorbent; premium towels |
| Combed cotton terry | Yarn with short fibres combed out | Smoother, stronger, less shedding |
| Carded cotton terry | Yarn that is only carded | Lower cost; loops can pull out more easily |
| Jacquard and dobby terry | Patterns or borders woven into the terry | Decorative and branded towels |
Terry vs Velour, and Terry vs Cotton
Terry vs velour: velour is terry cloth with the loops on one side sheared off. The sheared side is smooth and velvety and takes prints well, which is why it is popular for printed beach towels, but it absorbs less than looped terry.
Terry vs cotton: cotton is a fibre; terry is a construction. Most terry is cotton, but terry can also be made from bamboo viscose, polyester or blends. A “cotton towel” can be terry, waffle or flat-woven.
French Terry vs Terry Cloth
| Feature | Terry cloth | French terry |
|---|---|---|
| Construction | Woven | Knitted |
| Loops | On one or both outer sides | Only on the inside; smooth face outside |
| Weight | Medium to heavy | Light to medium |
| Absorbency | Very high | Moderate |
| Stretch | Little or none | Yes, from the knit |
| Main uses | Towels, bathrobes, bath mats | Sweatshirts, hoodies, joggers, loungewear |
French terry is an apparel fabric. If you are sourcing French terry garments, our sister company The Synerg works with hoodie manufacturers in Tirupur.
What to Specify for Terry Products
- Fabric: GSM, yarn (combed or carded, ring-spun or zero-twist) and fibre.
- Construction: single or double loop, pile height, and any dobby or jacquard border.
- Sizes: finished sizes after washing, with tolerances, and for robes a full graded measurement chart.
- Tests: absorbency, shrinkage, colour fastness and pile retention.
- Finishing and packing: softening wash, labels, folding and packing.
From our sourcing desk
A home textile importer from the UAE placed an order with us for terry bathrobes, but they did not have a correctly graded measurement specification for the sizes. Without it, we had to send many rounds of samples before the fit was approved. Our lesson: we now move to sampling only when the buyer has given us a proper measurement spec and a complete tech pack.
How to Source Terry Products Through Looms
- Brief: send your tech pack with fabric, GSM, sizes and, for robes, a graded measurement spec.
- Factory match: we match your product to a vetted terry towel or bathrobe factory.
- Sampling: we develop samples against your spec and approve them with you.
- Production and QC: we follow production and run inline and final inspections.
- Shipment: about 90 days from purchase order.
Minimum order: 1,000 pieces per colour per design, and certified factories are available on request. Send us your enquiry by email.
Related guides
FAQs
What is terry cloth?
Terry cloth is a woven fabric, usually cotton, with uncut loops of yarn on one or both sides. The loops increase the surface area so the fabric absorbs a lot of water, which is why terry is used for towels, bathrobes and bath mats.
What is the difference between French terry and terry cloth?
Terry cloth is woven, thick and has loops on the outside for absorbency, so it is used for towels and bathrobes. French terry is knitted, lighter and stretchy, with a smooth face and loops only on the inside, so it is used for sweatshirts, hoodies and joggers.
What is the difference between terry and velour?
Velour is terry cloth with the loops on one side sheared off, giving a smooth, soft, velvet-like surface that prints well. Velour is less absorbent than looped terry on the sheared side.
Is terry the same as cotton?
No. Cotton is a fibre and terry is a construction. Most terry cloth is made from cotton, but terry can also be made from bamboo viscose, polyester or blends.
What is terry cloth used for?
Terry cloth is mainly used for bath, hand and face towels, bath sheets, bathrobes, bath mats, beach and pool towels, kitchen towels, and baby products such as hooded towels and bibs.
About the Author: Karthik Thiru
Karthik Thiru is the founder of Looms, a home textile buying agent in Karur and Tirupur with 20+ years in India’s textile hub. He explains what terry cloth is to buyers and sources terry towels and bathrobes from vetted factories in India.
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