Linen glossary

Terry (loop pile)

Terry is the fabric towels are made of: a ground weave into which extra yarns form thousands of small loops on one or both faces. Those loops are what absorb water — the denser, taller and longer-fibred they are, the more the towel absorbs and the softer it stays. In Moroccan darija, any towel is simply called a "fouta".

Terry quality comes down to three criteria: GSM (550 g/m² is the hotel standard), the fibre (long-staple combed cotton, which pills less) and loop hold (a loop that pulls is a towel that unravels). Sheared terry (loops shaved into a velour) is softer but less absorbent — a decorating choice more than a service one.