Towelling: Should grown men really be wearing this?

Article by guest author Peter Brooker

I bought a terry cloth towelling polo the other day. The other half thought it was dreadful,

"It's a fabric for newborns, not grown men." She slated. Eventually after I sequestered her into a photo shoot she came round. Admitting that she was not wrong in her assumption, but that this particular polo works. I think mainly because I bought it with the idea that I need more pale blue in my collection. Dark blue, or Navy Blue washes me out, but the powder blue promotes my eyes.

I pitched the idea that towelling is not a fabric for grown ups to a couple of members of the James Bond community who came back with,

I don’t know why towelling has become such a popular fabric for menswear. A real man wears a real towel and understands the risks that come with it. - Matt Spaiser, Editor of Bond Suits.

And this got a response from Daniel Gaster, who has penned over 70 articles on the clothing of James Bond on the From Tailors With Love blog,

I won’t mention that I have some towelling polos or the Goldfinger playsuit then.

What is Towelling?

If you look closely at your bathroom towels you’ll notice small loops in the yarn in the pick and normal chain. Depending on the quality the loop should be prominent and the fabric will be soft to the touch.

The polo I'm focusing on today is by a company called Laguna, who I reached out to for an E-Interview but got no reply. It's actually an unusual website as they list products, but there is no actionable way to make an online purchase.

Laguna originated in California, and have been spreading beachy vibes across the US for over 80 years. Effortlessly trendy and functional, Laguna wearers take the carefree coastal spirit wherever they go.

From the website:

Get the best of both words with our stretch terry collection. They look like denim but feel like sweats. Made from super stretchy and insanely comfortable fabric, these pants and shorts are designed for all-day wear. With 5 pockets, joggers, and chinos available, there’s something for everyone in this versatile collection.

Final thoughts:

So far so good with this polo. I got it at a snip from a Strip Mall here in Orlando, Winter Park. The collar sits well around the neck and the sides are vented for added comfort. There is white piping around the welt of the breast pocket that is matched to the collar placket. My only gripe is the Laguna logo patch on the breast pocket. Nothing against the brand but I'd rather a cleaner chest.

Photo by Priscilla Du Preez 🇨🇦 on Unsplash