Turkish baths (hammam) have a rich history, dating back to the Ottoman Empire. These bath towels, called peştemal in Turkish, are hand loomed in the same villages where these towels have been made for centuries. The peştamal absorbs water as fast as a traditional towel, dries very quickly, takes up less space, is easy to carry and is therefore used as an alternative to the towel in bathrooms, pools, spas and beaches, The peştamal fabric is made of 100% cotton. After about 3-4 washes they will become softer and more absorbent.