Kitchen Towel Block Ecru/Anthracite

Almost 20 years ago, we asked ourselves which everyday textile products were not yet available in a knitted version. This led to the idea of launching a unique collection of knitted kitchen and bathroom textile

We can keep it short: drying is done by the material the towel is made of, not by how it's produced. In other words, our towels may look and feel different, but they do exactly the same job.

All of our kitchen and bathroom products are made in our own knitting factory in Beneden-Leeuwen. The finishing touches are done in a local workshop, after which the towels are washed and dried locally as well. They are then labeled and packaged. Aside from the fact that it's quite unique that we can still produce locally, this also ensures a very low carbon footprint during the production process.

All towels are fully finished on the knitting machines; after knitting, no seams or edges are stitched, which are often the weak points in terry cloth towels. The only thing sewn onto the towels is the label.

Additionally, the greatest advantage of the flat knitting machines we use is that products can be made to exact dimensions. This means no textile waste is generated during production. Flat knitting is therefore the most efficient and sustainable way to produce kitchen textiles.

There are two reasons for this:

First, we want to eliminate the natural shrinkage of the cotton from the products.

Second, everyone is familiar with the issue of a new towel, whether knitted or woven, that doesn't absorb well. This is caused by the wax (a kind of paraffin) added in the final stage of spinning the yarn. It's used to keep the yarn smooth and ensure trouble-free processing on textile machines. This wax is a slightly greasy substance and can only be removed from the fibers through multiple washes. Our initial wash helps to partially remove this wax. However, optimal absorption is only achieved after several washes.

The key word here is three-dimensional elasticity. Because our towels can stretch in all directions, they hardly wear out, even after many washes and drying cycles.

The towels themselves are not stain-resistant, but because they are knitted, the fibers are much looser compared to woven towels. This allows the fibers to open up more easily during washing, making them much easier to clean thoroughly. As a result, even the toughest stains, such as coffee, blood, or wine, can disappear without the need for special treatments, after just one or a few regular washes.

You can wash the towels at temperatures up to 60 degrees. Make sure not to wash them with textiles that have sharp objects like zippers or other fasteners. It's best to avoid using liquid detergent and fabric softener.

No, in fact, after just a few separate washes, you can wash all the colors in the collection together. The colorfastness of our products is one of our strong points—anthracite stays anthracite and doesn't fade to grey!

Our towels are made from a blend of 50% cotton and 50% acrylic.

After many experiments with different yarn compositions, we found that the blend we use now is the best for our intended purpose. The cotton content ensures sufficient moisture absorption, while the acrylic fibers provide colorfastness, shape retention, and most importantly, the desired durability.

While 100% cotton products are often seen as eco-friendly, the reality is more complex than people think. Cotton farming requires massive amounts of water, insecticides, and pesticides, leading to water pollution and ecosystem damage. Additionally, cotton processing consumes significant energy and chemicals, contributing to air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions. Then there are the working conditions for the farmers growing the cotton. There's a lot of information available about cotton production (including organic cotton) and its environmental impact.

On the other hand, the production of acrylic fibers, like all synthetic fibers, requires petroleum and chemical processes. This negatively impacts the environment due to greenhouse gas emissions and the use of fossil fuels. Acrylic is also not biodegradable and can end up in the environment if not properly disposed of. Furthermore, microplastics can be released from all textile products containing synthetic fibers.

To be honest, it's often a matter of choosing between two evils and trying to make the lesser of the two.

Combining cotton and acrylic offers several sustainability benefits, making it a better option than a product made entirely from cotton. Acrylic fibers are much stronger, more resilient, and more colorfast than cotton, which means the resulting product is far less likely to wear out, deform, tear, or lose color. This extends the product's lifespan and makes it more resistant to daily use and frequent washing and drying, ultimately increasing its overall durability.

Our own experience shows that, with normal use, our products can endure nearly 20 years of intensive use while remaining almost indistinguishable from new in terms of shape, color, and quality. In our humble opinion, that qualifies as a sustainable product.

This warranty covers the shape retention, color fastness, and wear resistance of the knitted kitchen textiles included with this knitted kitchen towel. However, we would like to draw your attention to specific terms and exclusions:

Washing with Sharp Objects:
The knitted kitchen textiles must not be washed with other textiles containing sharp objects, such as buttons or zippers. Any damage caused by such objects is not covered by this warranty.

Discoloration from Bleeding Textiles:
The kitchen textiles may discolor if washed with other textiles that bleed color. This warranty does not cover damage caused by washing with color-bleeding textiles; therefore, discoloration is excluded.

Transfer of Textile Fibers:
The transfer of textile fibers from other fabrics onto the knitted kitchen textiles is also not covered by the warranty. We recommend washing these kitchen textiles separately to avoid such situations.

Care Instructions:
Strictly follow the recommended care instructions on the product label or accompanying documentation. Improper care, including washing with unsuitable materials, may void the warranty.

Proof of Purchase:
A valid proof of purchase is required for warranty claims. Please keep the original receipt or invoice carefully.

Warranty Period:
The warranty period is valid for up to 10 years from the date of purchase.

Warranty Claims:
Any warranty claims must be reported within a reasonable time after discovering the defect. Contact the manufacturer's customer service or the designated supplier to initiate the warranty process.

This disclaimer aims to clarify the circumstances under which the warranty applies and explicitly excludes situations that may cause damage to the knitted kitchen textiles. For further questions or information, please contact the manufacturer or supplier.