Behind the Making of the Perfect Beach Towel, with Zoe Letts

ZOE LETTS HAS CREATED TOWELS FOR SOME OF THE BEST KNOWN BRANDS IN THE WORLD. SO, WHAT WAS IT LIKE DESIGNING AND PRODUCING ONE FOR HERSELF? BLY CARPENTER AND ZOE CRACK OPEN A ROSÉ AND DISCUSS…

BC: Zoe, drink up and share your secretes with us…what do you look for in a beach towel?

ZL: I think a beach towel is a pretty personal product because everyone has different preferences.  Also the variety on the market now is endless and at various price points so there is something for every type of consumer. I personally LOVE a big, thick terry velour towel like the Patched Honour towel from Ponyrider.  It’s a mix of my favourite things - pure Turkish cotton and a rich, stylish, sophisticated pattern.  

BC: You and your family are avid beachgoers and love sailing - do you have a preferred towel for these occasions?

ZL: When lugging towels around for my family of five my go-to is always the Newport towel, a mix of traditional Turkish pestemal on the front and absorbent terry loop on the back. I developed the Newport specifically for school and club fundraising purposes which is why it features the Newport Primary School colours.  I think it’s a pretty perfect mix of all the essential elements - it’s soft, luxurious, lightweight and portable. I love its playful nautical stripe and it also features a big tag - so you can write your family name on it with marker.

BC: We’ve seen the rise and rise of the Turkish towel, the cult of the ‘roundie’ created by The Beach People and even the hooded beach towel. What do you think will be the next big trend? 

ZL: I watch trends but to be honest, I think quality and pattern have to be equally married.  Stripes are a staple for some brands plus tassels seem to be a continual feature.  Digitally printed towels are also becoming more popular with designers and can capture photographic artwork beautifully. 

BC: Where do you draw your design inspiration from?

ZL:  I find inspiration to develop products for brands by looking at new ways to re-develop old ideas and how we can we best tell that brand’s unique story.  I have this argument with my husband about form over function but I truly believe that quality, form and design have equal roles to play. 

BC: Should your beach towel match your swimwear? Or is this cliche…to match, or to mix it up…what do you do?

ZL:  I’ve got quite an armoury of towels after all these years but I do think having a towel that coordinates with your overall look is very St Tropez - and who doesn’t want to emulate the style of those who frequent the French Riviera?  Although I think we are equally stylish on Sydney’s Palm Beach too! 

BC: What’s your top tip for getting zinc stains and tomato sauce stains (from the nippers BBQ on Sunday morning) out of your favourite towel?

ZL:   If the towel is made from quality fibre, and high quality dye stuff, then removing ketchup, as we Yanks say, should not be an issue!   A hot wash with a splash of white vinegar and lemon ought to get that zinc off your towel.  Otherwise, blot it and use a bi-carb paste but do a colourfast test on your dark towels first.

BC: Thanks Zoe, always a pleasure!