Welcome to a world where bath towels transcend mere functionality, and the act of drying becomes an experience of luxury and sophistication.
At Ottoloom we design unique Turkish Towels, right here in Zealand, and work with some of the last remaining weaving families in Southern Turkey still using traditional weaving methods. We are here to redefine your bathing ritual with the epitome of opulence.
Uncompromising Luxury: Organic Cotton Elegance
Our bath towels are not just pieces of fabric; they're a statement of uncompromising luxury. Crafted from the finest organic cotton, Ottoloom towels marry nature's purity with comfort, offering you a tactile indulgence like no other.
Contemporary Bath Towels: Where Form Meets Function
Step into a realm of contemporary elegance with our carefully curated collection of contemporary bath towels. The fusion of modern design and functionality transforms your bathroom into a space of understated sophistication. We have a design for everyone.
Elevated Towelling: A Touch of Splendor
Drying off after a refreshing bath becomes an calming moment with Ottoloom's exceptional craftsmanship. Our towels are more than absorbent layers; they're an embodiment of elevated towelling, enveloping you in a touch of splendor and comfort.
Luxury Redefined: The Art of Pampering
Luxury isn't just a word; it's a feeling, an experience to be cherished. Our range of Ottoloom & Kontex towels redefine indulgence, offering you a post-bath pampering that's as comforting as it is lavish.
Elevate Every Bath: A Ritual of Comfort
Bathing is more than a routine; it's a ritual of self-care and rejuvenation. Ottoloom's towels enhance this ritual, turning it into an act of comfort and serenity. The touch of our luxurious towelling elevates the simple act of drying into an experience of relaxation.
Discover Ottoloom: Where Luxury Meets Utility
Your search for the perfect bath towels ends here. Ottoloom brings you a fusion of luxury and utility that transcends the ordinary. Our towels are a celebration of elegance, a tribute to a life well-lived.
Experience the Elegance: Explore Ottoloom Today
Unveil a world of indulgence and elegance with Ottoloom's luxurious organic cotton towels. Embrace the sensation of superior comfort, elevate your bathing experience, and let our towels redefine your idea of luxury.
]]>The Festive season is here, our Director Georgia takes us through her favourite gift ideas for the season.
Christmas is such a wonderful time of year, my favourite in fact. Spending time with our nearest and dearest at the beach or lake and making the most of the warmer months.
]]>The Festive season is here, our Director Georgia takes us through her favourite gift ideas for the season.
Christmas is such a wonderful time of year, my favourite in fact. Spending time with our nearest and dearest at the beach or lake and making the most of the warmer months.
I love taking this time to reset, recharge and prepare for what the New Year has in store. Below are some of my favourite Ottoloom pieces from this year, that make for the perfect gift.
You will hear a bit less from us over the holiday break via email and social media as we take a well deserved break. I wish you happy and memorable days over the coming days & weeks as we say goodbye to 2022 and welcome in 2023.
Thank you again for your support, it means the world.
x
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Where did it all begin?
Ottoloom started as a smaller collection of beach towels, then slowly expanded into the thick-looped designs. Today it is continuously growing and working towards bringing unique yet beautiful designs and pieces to New Zealand.
Why are ethics and sustainability important to you?
Staying connected to our weavers and families is so important to us. Ottoloom towels are made by weavers in Southern Turkey who have been using the same time-honoured techniques and traditional, wooden shuttle looms for centuries.
Each piece we sell can be traced back to a family workshop and is guaranteed to be made with 100% (GOTS) certified organic Turkish cotton. Today we are seeing so many mass produced products hit the market and store shelves, it feels good to know that we are supporting families trying to keep ancient traditions and ways of making things alive.
What values does Ottoloom live by?
We want to bring unique artisan made textiles to Antipodean homes – something that feels a little bit special, but will also last a life time. We are all about designing and crafting well made products that are just as beautiful as they are kind on the environment.
How would you describe your interiors aesthetic?
I love things that are minimal and timeless, but also have an element of character. We believe our Turkish Towels are for everyone. In my home, you'll find a different range on display each week – depending on our mood or energy. There is something about our designs that can really cater to your emotions and bring a smile to your face each day.
What's next for Ottoloom?
We are working on a new design which we are so excited about... we cannot say too much just yet. Watch this space!
Georgia x
Organic cotton is softer, stronger and more absorbent than non-organic cotton and has a much less harmful impact on the environment. It is entirely free of pesticides and chemicals normally sprayed on non-organic crops. It's natural anti-bacterial properties resist mildew, so you won’t get a smelly towel when it’s damp.
Because of the numerous benefits of organic cotton, at Ottoloom we only stock 100% certified organic cotton products. You may have to pay slightly more than cheaper factory made non-organic products, but ours will last longer, are not harmful to sensitive skin and our towels are more absorbent – essential for flat woven thin towels.
Unfortunately many textiles in the market today are labelled ‘organic’. However, only 5% of towels sold worldwide are made from organic cotton and other natural fibres. The only way to know you are buying a genuinely organic item is if it’s made with certified organic materials.
What does GOTS Global Organic Textile Standard mean?
Certified organic is the only way to guarantee what you are buying is truly organic.
GOTS (The Global Organic Textile Standard) is an international certification that demands strict environmental criteria on the entire manufacturing process.
It is the leading worldwide standard for growing, harvesting and processing natural fibres. It prohibits the use of harsh chemicals during production and processing, and requires safe and fair labour practices at facilities that process and manufacture textiles.
The manufacturing process of textiles and luxury towels often involves different facilities and processes before the final product reaches consumers and GOTS ensures that an organic certifier evaluates all phases of production. That includes farming, harvesting, production, processing, manufacturing, packaging and branding. The organic GOTS standard guarantees 95% organic cotton, considering the whole production process; from seed to finished product. This results in in pure, soft, strong, totally natural organic cotton.
The other important benefit of certified organic cotton is it guarantees high quality cotton. The quality of 100% cotton varies greatly, which you will know if you have purchased cheap cotton items and more expensive ones.
Generally your cheaper item will not last nearly as long as a higher quality cotton product. Sometimes it is difficult to tell whether what you are buying is high quality so if it is labelled certified organic, you can feel certain it’s a product that will last.
For more information about how our products are made and the ethical practices we support, see our FAQ’s page or other blog posts.
]]>Well I must apologise as I have been very slack on the blog recently. To kick off hopefully more regular blog posts I thought I’d share with you a beautiful story about one of our weaving families, and the lovely Jennifer who is resurrecting traditional weaving in Turkey.
I hope you enjoy this heart-warming story. Grab a cuppa, it’s a long one!
One of the Turkish families who create some of our products come from a long line of very famous weavers.
At 75 years old and retired for more than 20 years, the family patriarch was still renowned as one of Turkey’s most famous weavers. When he retired his sons took over the business and were determined to modernise by buying some small factory machines. Jennifer, who manages all our weavers and products in Turkey, told the son that they would not be able to work together if he used factory machines. The son was shocked but sat and listened to his father and Jennifer speak about why old looms should be used.
The father chain-smoked and drank cup after cup of hot tea throughout the conversation which at first centred on family, as is the culture in Turkey, and then turned to weaving. Jennifer told him that she believed the only way to save the art of weaving was to create things that could not be recreated on factory machines and to use threads that were of the best quality possible.
The father asked his sons to collect some pieces that had been made on one of their oldest looms. Several amazing pieces were delivered and, one by one, the father started to talk about them. Jennifer was completely entranced. The pieces were so amazing, unlike anything she had seen before. The newest of the three pieces was 45 years old. The oldest piece was around 55 years.
The father launched into an explanation of the looms on which these pieces had been woven and, in the middle of this, said casually that he would take Jennifer to see them one day. She was astonished that the looms still existed.
The father explained that the boys put them in storage, but he wouldn’t let them sell them. Jennifer's head was swimming with ideas. The next hour was devoted to the possibility of bringing these looms back to life.
Under strict orders by his father, by January 2012, the eldest son had obtained a new space for the express purpose of getting the looms up and running again. The fact that they had been in storage for 30 years, made them a repair man's nightmare. The father became immersed in work again, getting the looms back into action.
And then terrible news in the summer of 2012: the father passed away. The family was completely devastated and so was Jennifer.
For the next few months no work was done, depression loomed over everyone and they couldn't seem to find the motivation to work at all as they mourned the death of this amazing man.
Finally, on a visit in late in January 2013, Jennifer spent a week in the village and talked to the sons about their father and how important the work on the looms was. Tears running down his face, the oldest son apologized for his laziness over the last months and said his sorrow had taken over. He said he vowed to spend every waking moment ensuring the two looms worked again in tribute and honour of his father's career as a weaver. Jennifer left from that trip with a full heart, moved by his words and his new found dedication for the past ways.
At the beginning of March, 2013, the first run of flat woven pestamel were delivered from the resurrected looms. They were beautiful and unlike anything that could be produced on factory machines. The family continues to supply Ottoloom products.
This story is just one example of the families who make our products in Turkey. Everything is truly hand woven – no semi-automatic or factory machines. This results in the range of weaves throughout our products to be incomparable to any other flat woven Turkish pestamel (towels, throws and blankets).
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Cotton is one of the the most commonly used fibres in textiles today. Many people think of it as a sustainable and healthy choice, however, the production process of cotton is killing our planet and surrounding communities through the use of synthetic fertilisers, pesticides (nine of the most commonly used pesticides are known to have cancer-causing agents), toxic dyes, heavy metals and intensive irrigation. In fact it is claimed to be one of the top polluters in the world.
Many of the cotton processing factories are pumping highly contaminated water straight into the rivers. These chemicals entering vital waterways have been associated with allergies, skin rashes, respiratory problems, cancer, birth defects, and hormonal & reproductive effects. It is estimated that over 3 million people are poisoned by pesticides from cotton every year, not to mention killing everything that lives in these rivers.
So how is organic cotton different?
Organic cotton is grown using methods and materials that have a low impact on the environment. Organic production systems replenish and maintain soil fertility, eliminate the use of toxic and persistent pesticides and fertilizers, and build biologically diverse agriculture. In addition, federal regulations prohibit the use of genetically engineered seed for organic farming.
Organic | Conventional | |
---|---|---|
Seed preparation: | Natural, untreated GMO freeseeds. | Typically treated with fungicidesor insecticides. Possible GMOs. |
Soil preparation: | Healthy soil through crop rotation. Retains moisture in soil from increased organic matter. | Synthetic fertilizers, loss of soil due to mono- crop culture, intensive irrigation. |
Weed control: | Healthy soil naturally fight off pests and create balance | Aerial spraying of insecticides and pesticides. Nine of the most commonly used pesticides are known cancer-causing agents. |
Harvesting: | Natural defoliation from freezing temperatures or through the use of water management. | Defoliation induced with toxic chemicals. |
Production: | Warp fibers stabilized using double-plying or non toxic cornstarch. | Warp fibers stabilized using toxic waxes. |
Whitening: | Natural or non toxic whiteners used. | Chlorine bleaching creates toxic by-products, which are released into the environment. |
Finishing: | Soft scour in warm water with soda ash, for a pH of 7.5 to 8. | Hot water, synthetic surfactants, additional chemicals (sometimes formaldehyde). |
Dyeing: | Low-impact fiber-reactive or natural dyes with low metal and sulfur content. Otto loom towels are dyed using botanicals and vegetables. | High temperature containing heavy metals and sulfur. |
Printing: | Low-impact, water-based inks and/or pigments with no heavy metals. Ottoloom towels have no printing, all the patterns come from the loom | Pigments may be petroleumbased and contain heavy metals. Run-off spills into waterways, polluting streams. |
Fair trade: | Social criteria in place to ensure safe, healthy, non-abusive, non-discriminatory environment with fair living wages. | No social screening. Possible child or forced labor used. Facilities may be unsafe and unhealthy. |
Price: | Initial cost more expensive. Long-term advantages: priceless. | Initially cheaper. Long-term impact on environment: devastating. |
Shop Sustainably