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Short answer: a yoga studio uses a mat towel, about 61 x 183 cm, laid over the mat to absorb sweat and stop slipping, and a small hand towel for the face. Flat-woven or low-pile cotton grips when slightly damp and washes hot. Microfibre grips more and dries faster, but holds odour and cannot take the same wash.
The two towels
| Towel | Size | Job |
|---|---|---|
| Mat towel | About 61 x 183 cm, to match a standard mat | Covers the mat, absorbs sweat, gives grip |
| Hand towel | About 40 x 60 cm to 40 x 80 cm | Face and hands |
Hot yoga studios go through both at a high rate. Gentler classes need mainly the hand towel.
Cotton against microfibre
| Cotton, flat-woven or low pile | Microfibre | |
|---|---|---|
| Grip when dry | Moderate | Moderate |
| Grip when damp | Good | Very good |
| Absorbency | High | High, and it feels drier |
| Dry time in the laundry | Longer | Short |
| Hot wash and bleach | Yes | No. Heat and softener damage it |
| Odour over time | Washes out | Tends to hold it |
| Feel | Natural, soft | Synthetic, can cling |
| Sheds microplastics | No | Yes |
We make cotton towels. For studios that want a natural fibre and a hot, hygienic wash, cotton is the straightforward choice. Studios set on microfibre mat towels should buy those from a microfibre specialist and can still buy cotton hand towels from us.
What to ask for in a cotton mat towel
- A flat or low-pile weave. Deep loops slide and bunch under the hands.
- Light weight. A mat towel at hotel weight would be heavy and slow to dry.
- The right length. It must cover the mat end to end.
- Hemmed edges that lie flat, so they do not curl underfoot.
- A flat-woven hammam style works well: thin, grippy when damp, quick to dry.
How many to stock
Stock = towels per class x classes per day x days until the laundry returns, plus a quarter.
Example: 20 students, 5 classes a day, one mat towel and one hand towel each, in-house washing daily.
| Per day | Stock with a quarter spare | |
|---|---|---|
| Mat towels | 100 | 125 |
| Hand towels | 100 | 125 |
If laundry goes out and returns next day, double it.
Rent, include or sell
| Model | How it works |
|---|---|
| Included in the class price | Simplest for students, highest laundry bill |
| Rented per class | Covers laundry cost. Fewer students take one |
| Sold with the studio's name | A one-off sale, no laundry, and the towel advertises the studio |
A branded towel sold at the desk is the one model with no running cost. Embroidery or a woven mark is confirmed on enquiry.
Colour
Mid-tones and patterns hide sweat marks. White looks clean and takes bleach. Dark colours can show deodorant marks. Choose something that suits the studio and can be reordered. Each colour is its own SKU.
Care
- Wash after every use, hot.
- No fabric softener, which reduces absorbency and grip.
- Dry fully before stacking. Damp towels in a warm studio smell within hours.
Ordering
Trial runs start at 500 pieces, and smaller towel orders can join a run we already have in production, in that run's size and colour. Wholesale pricing starts at 2,000 pieces per SKU, which suits studio groups and distributors.
See our page for yoga studio towels. To get sizes and a price, tell us your class numbers.
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Written by
Dr Abin Babu
Founder & Chairman, Anabyn Global Ventures
Anabyn exports hotel and home linen from Kerala, India. These guides come from the questions buyers ask our desk. About the team
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