People are mind-blown over debate about the purpose behind lines on a towel
Emily Brown
Featured Image Credit: Getty Stock Image
There are a lot of things in life that you don't ever really think about, until someone starts to question it.
Why are there little studs on your jeans? Why does Coke taste better from McDonald's than out of a bottle?
Most of us are happy never knowing the answers, instead just considering them as facts of life. The lines on towels was just another one - until now.
In recent days, posts about the 'reason' for lines on towels have gone viral, racking up thousands of comments on Twitter and Reddit.
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You know the lines I'm talking about - the sections of the towel that run along the shorter length, a few inches from the edge. A huge amount of towels have them as a feature, but do they really add anything?
Raising this question on Twitter, one user shared a picture of a towel and drew attention to the lines, writing: "What is the purpose of this part of a towel?"
That was all it took to spark a full-blown debate online, with some responses proving more convincing than others.
One quick-witted user claimed the line acted similar to the tread on a tire, writing: "It’s a tread line. When your towel thins out to that level, it’s time to replace your towel. Mileage may vary."
The original poster also shared a theory of his own, writing: "I'm convinced that it only exists to shrink and make it impossible to fold the towel nicely, causing you to buy another towel."
As questions about the reason for the lines continued to roll in, some other users offered up a more reasonable explanation.
One user explained: "It’s called a dobby weave. It’s maintains structure and prevents curling. It’s also decorative."
Another agreed, writing: "It’s called 'The dobby border', and it reinforces the fabric, prevents fraying, adds a decorative touch, and helps with folding. It’s also less absorbent due to its tighter weave."
Adding weight to this explanation, the 'dobby border' theory was backed by American towel wholesaler Towel Hub, which provided an explanation to The New York Post.
In a statement, the company said: “Known as a dobby border, this woven strip helps prevent fraying, improves absorbency, and gives towels a professional, polished look.”
However, if you're still not convinced, another reasonable explanation came on Reddit, where one person wrote: "It’s for hanging on a clothes line, the pegs don’t leave a mark."
So whether you believe the tire thread theory or the 'dobby border', at least we have some answers!