Which fabric is best for a bathrobe?
- , Through Inge | Bath&Living
- 10 min read
It's clear that there are so many different bathrobes in all sorts of colors, prints, and styles. This also means that there are countless different fabrics from which bathrobes are made.
But how do you know what the best material is for a bathrobe?
This largely depends on you personally and what you intend to use the bathrobe for. That's why it's difficult to give a universal answer to the question "What is the best bathrobe?" But we can help you a lot by clarifying the different materials.
Terrycloth bathrobe
Let's start with the terrycloth bathrobe. Terrycloth is woven into loops. This creates more space for moisture absorption and dries quickly. Terrycloth is often made of cotton, which naturally offers excellent moisture absorption and breathability. It's no wonder the terrycloth bathrobe is so popular. Many people use a bathrobe in humid conditions, such as right after a shower or in the bathroom. saunaEven if you sweat easily, a terrycloth bathrobe is a good option, as its excellent moisture absorption makes it less likely to feel clammy.
A nice terry bathrobe in our range is the Vandyck Vogue A bathrobe, available in various solid colors. It's made of thin terry cloth, reaches above the knee, and has a zipper. This makes it not only comfortable for home use, but also ideal for the sauna or as a camping bathrobe. It gives you freedom of movement without the risk of it falling open. Another feature of the Vogue bathrobe is its soft exterior, made of sheared terry cloth (velour).
Many bathrobes in our range feature a terrycloth weave on the inside with a different outer layer, such as velour. This way, you benefit from the ultimate comfort of terrycloth against your skin, as well as other advantages characteristic of the outer fabric.
The ultimate terry bathrobe is the wonderful luxury London Aquanova bathrobe. This full terrycloth bathrobe is made of 100% Egyptian cotton and weighs 420 grams/m². The icing on the cake is that the colors of the London bathrobes perfectly match the London towels and bath sheets from Aquanova.
Cotton bathrobe
Speaking of 100% cotton, for some people it's a cotton bathrobe The best option. If you're looking for a bathrobe made exclusively from natural materials, a 100% cotton bathrobe is always a good choice. However, not all cotton is the same. There's a significant difference in feel and use between the two bathrobes mentioned below, even though they're both made of 100% cotton.
The Vandyck Prestige The bathrobe is a heavy-duty 360-gram/m² fabric and feels wonderfully soft thanks to the velour exterior. Velour is essentially the same weave as terrycloth, but the loops are shaved for a softer feel. It's a truly wonderful bathrobe for lounging on a rainy day, but also suitable for the sauna. This is thanks to the qualities of a 100% cotton bathrobe. Cotton is naturally highly absorbent and breathable, ideal for a day in the sauna. Furthermore, the interior of this bathrobe features a terrycloth cotton weave, which feels comfortable when the skin is still warm or wet.
The Biarritz is a completely different cotton bathrobe from our Vandyck collection. Both the inside and outside are made of 100% waffled cotton, weighing 200 grams/m².As you can imagine, this provides a much lighter and airier feel. Although it's made of the same material as the Prestige, the fabric is quite different, and you'll likely use the Biarritz at different times. It's easier to take on vacation, but it won't offer as much warmth on a winter day. Thanks to the firm yet airy weave, you won't have to worry about feeling clammy with the Biarritz bathrobe either. Moisture absorption and ventilation are excellent! A bathrobe made of 100% waffle cotton from our Aquanova collection is the Viggo bathrobe.
Bathrobe polyester
Although a velour cotton bathrobe feels very soft, a polyester bathrobe still beats cotton in terms of softness. So if you're truly looking for a cuddly soft bathrobe, we recommend a polyester bathrobe. Bathrobes with polyester Polyester is known for its pleasant warmth. However, polyester doesn't absorb moisture or allow air to pass through it as well, and it takes longer to dry. Therefore, a polyester bathrobe is not recommended for use as a sauna bathrobe. If you often get too warm or sweat easily, a synthetic fabric like polyester isn't ideal either.
A good middle ground in that case would be, for example, Beaumont Vandyck bathrobe. This one has a polyester exterior for a soft and warm feel, with an interior of natural materials (cotton and bamboo) for good moisture absorption. The same composition of materials can be seen in the Taylor bathrobe, which has the added feature of a spacious hood.
Fleece bathrobe
If you're looking for the ultimate "fluffy" bathrobe, go for a fleece bathrobe. Fleece is the English word for fur, and this fabric feels wonderfully soft and supple. Fleece keeps you nice and warm thanks to its voluminous structure, yet it's relatively lightweight and therefore comfortable to wear. A fleece bathrobe in our range is the Mya Aquanova bathrobe. This one is made of polyester fibers, so fleece is a synthetic fabric. While natural fabrics score higher on ventilation and moisture absorption, fleece's breathability is superior to other synthetic materials due to its loose weave.
Bathrobe in mixed cotton
Above we already mentioned the Beaumont and Taylor bathrobes which are made with a mixture of materials, including cottonCotton generally scores well on all counts, but linen is even airier and cooler, and polyester is softer and more supple. That's why many bathrobes use blended cotton—a mix of cotton with other materials to create the ultimate comfort.
Bamboo
Bamboo Bamboo is a natural material known for its softness and suppleness. Because bamboo fibers are naturally smooth and round, textiles made of or containing bamboo feel softer than cotton. What many people don't realize is that bamboo absorbs up to 60% more moisture than cotton. This makes it an ideal material for bathrobes in many situations, such as the bathroom, sauna, or swimming pool. However, bamboo is somewhat less durable than cotton, which is why a blend of the two makes such a wonderful material for a bathrobe.
Although bamboo is incorporated into several bathrobes in our range, the most striking are the bathrobes with printVandyck distinguishes itself as a fashion brand in bed and swimwear with these bathrobes, among other things. Each season, the brand releases bathrobes with new prints, so you can always choose a unique and modern one.
Polyester
If you've read the rest of this article, it should be pretty self-explanatory. A cotton bathrobe is breathable and durable, but less soft and comfortable. A polyester bathrobe, on the other hand, is soft and comfortable, but more likely to be sweaty. By blending polyester and cotton fibers, you get the best of both worlds. Not suitable if you're looking for exclusively natural materials, but otherwise, a fantastic combination!
Linen
What's special about linen is that it can absorb much more moisture than cotton without feeling wet. Linen is also more durable and stronger than cotton, and hypoallergenic. Linen has a natural wrinkle, which gives it a casual yet elegant look. The downside of linen is that it can feel a bit rougher against the skin. To enjoy the benefits of linen without sacrificing comfort, it can be blended with cotton. This is also a great option if you're looking for a bathrobe made from 100% natural materials.
Bathrobe materials at a glance
We hope we've given you some insight into the different materials used in bathrobes. Below, we've provided an overview of the various materials in our range and the situations for which each material is suitable. The more stars, the better suited for the situation. By "Airport quality," we mean how suitable a bathrobe is for taking on vacation. In other words, the less space the bathrobe takes up in your suitcase, the more stars it will have.
| Material | For after showering | To lounge in | Sauna bathrobe | Camping bathrobe | Airport quality | Characteristic |
| Terrycloth cotton | ***** | **** | ***** | **** | * | Moisture absorbent and quick drying |
| Velvet cotton | *** | **** | **** | ** | * | Soft and moisture absorbent |
| Waffle cotton | **** | *** | **** | ***** | ***** | Airy, breathable and quick-drying |
| Cotton blend with bamboo | ***** | *** | ***** | ***** | ***** | Soft, breathable and quick drying |
| Cotton blend with linen | ***** | *** | **** | **** | ** | Airy, cool and sustainable |
| Cotton blend with polyester | ** | **** | ** | *** | *** | Smooth, firm and quite airy |
| Polyester | * | ***** | * | * | * | Very soft and warm, stays wet for a long time |
| Fleece | * | ***** | * | ** | ** | Ultra soft, warm and reasonably breathable |