Kikois whisper on wild sands,

Driftwood sails, nature stands.

Building forts, imaginations at play,

Mungo’s summer, in a sunlit bay.

Summer series:

Family Gathering | Linen Love | Holiday Reminiscing

Over the years, as I’ve become increasingly involved with Mungo, there are several questions that I get asked by members of the public repeatedly. Queries such as: “Are your towels absorbent?” (Yes. Yes they really are) and “Can I get a discount?” (For the last time, mom, the answer is still no.) But the one that has proven the hardest to answer has to do with our old looms.

“Why do you run the antique looms?”

To clarify, this question is often being asked in relation to the oldest in our collection of old looms. The two Lancashire looms, which are into their second century. The Ruti looms, both well past retirement age. And my personal favourite, Hattie – the Hattersley Domestic loom – she’s over one hundred.

The short answer (if indeed there is a short answer): looms that use a shuttle to carry the weft thread, which all of the above are, give a true selvedge/selvage. A true selvage is when the weft threads are looped into the woven fabric creating an edge that doesn’t fray or need sewing. This is a lot harder to recreate or do with modern weaving machines – at best you can imitate it.

But. That’s just not all of it.

For me, there’s something remarkable about these analogue beauties still chugging away in a digital age. Something visceral, something unique. Something that can only be described as a feeling. But that’s not an easy answer to explain. Nor is it necessarily describing a tangible benefit.

So I decided to put the question to a few people around the place and see if perhaps there was something more conclusive to put forward.

The first person I asked was our founder and master weaver, Stuart Holding. He’s bound to know, right? His answer was quick, emphatic, and matter-of-fact; “Because we can.” Thanks, Obama. Johan, our resident electrician and all-round handyman, who was nearby, threw in his take: “Because we want to.” Our operations manager, Caroline, responded with a pragmatic; “Because we do.” Although maybe there’s a touch of philosophy to that last answer.

I moved on to some of the marketing team. Georgina, our wordsmith in residence, gave me a three-minute answer, but I failed to press record and the details have grown a little hazy since that day last week. Forgive me, I’m ancient. But one thing she said stood out above the rest. She reminded me that Mungo began with these old looms. The business was founded on the principles of taking the old; traditions, tools, and techniques, and making them new again. Giving old things new life. She reminded me that we cannot forget our past, as it shapes our future. Heavy!

There followed a moment of introspection as I digested the truth in Georgina’s answer before Lilah, the Marketing Manager, chimed in from across the room; “For me, it’s because I prefer the product that comes off the antiques.”

“Really,” I said.

“In my opinion, the Cook’s Cloth is our best kitchen cloth and the Summer Towel is our best towel,” she replied.

I have to point out that we’re getting subjective now. For me, the best of our flat-weave towels is the Itawuli. Everyone has their own particular favourite (in fact Georgina wrote a whole blog about how everyone has a favourite). However, Lilah’s view does remind me of the uniqueness of the product that comes off the older looms. It’s not just the selvage. This might not sound like a selling point, but the fabric that comes off the older looms is less… perfect. Oh dear, this is why I don’t work in the sales department. To be more clear, I mean it has small inconsistencies; tiny signs that there’s a process behind making it. There’s a word I’m looking for here and I think it’s ‘character’.

Maybe I’m reacting to a world in which AI can write your entire blog (not this one, you can tell by my poor grammar), but it seems to me this inherent uniqueness is definitely a selling point of the products and maybe the reason we run the old looms?

Or maybe we run them simply because we can. Does everything have to be justified with an economic reason?

Some things, it must be said, are just worth doing.

We’ve all known, and likely loved, a cotton towel.

Perhaps it’s a memory of a day at the beach. A lazy hammock strung between two trees. Or a children’s fort, stretched between chairs. Maybe it’s the nostalgia of a mother’s hug post-bath. Or a deliciously sized bath sheet from a special weekend away.

Or maybe just a good old favourite; a trusty towel that has been in your cupboard longer than you dare to remember.

But what about linen?

There’s a certain refinement, carrying with it millennia of heritage, in the fibres of the flax plant.

Linen textiles are known to be some of the oldest in the world.
The spinning and weaving of flax has been illustrated on early wall paintings, and used for mummification.
Linen cloth has been found in prehistoric caves, and in the ruins of bygone kingdoms.
And it’s the fibre behind the world’s oldest known garment: the Tarkhan dress.

Out of these empires of old, we feel it’s for good reason that the ancient Egyptians called it woven moonlight.

The fibres of the flax plant produce a yarn that’s unmatched.
Light enough to billow in the gentlest breeze.
Yet strong enough to stand the test of time.
And in the sunlight, it almost glimmers.

Introducing the Flax Towel.
Light and lustrous.
Soft yet strong.
A towel that carries with it the hallmark of heritage.

Woven with the highest quality pure linen threads.

Now available in Ochre, Moss and Graphite.

Old habits die hard. That’s why we understand those of you who have yet to cotton on to the flat weave towel revolution. But we can give you a gentle nudge in the right direction, and these ‘best things about flat weave towels’ might just be the prod you needed.

If you’re new to the game, you might be wondering what a flat weave towel is in the first place. Unlike a terry towel that is always woven with the same looped pile fabric, using a flat weave allows Mungo to create many different weave designs and structures, resulting in a feast of visual possibilities. Here’s why we swear by them.

1. Highly Absorbent

Rumour has it that towels are the leading cause of dry skin. Okay but seriously, the careful weave of this towel makes it ultra absorbent. Whether you’re fresh out of the bath or beach, or scrambling to dry your little one, a flat weave towel will do the job in a jiffy.

2. Quick-drying

Nothing worse than returning from a beach or camping adventure with the musky scent of a wet towel. Or drying up on a hand towel that’s been used one too many times. A flat weave towel is super light, so it’ll dry in no time.

3. Water Saver

Due to the lightweight nature of a flat weave towel, there’s less bulk for your washing load. In fact, we put it to the test. Pitted against the standard terry cloth sort, you can fit almost twice as many flat weave towels in the wash. Read more about that experiment (and other water saving tips) here.

4. Durable

Our products are made to last, not destined for landfill. We use quality yarn and natural fibres that are sustainable and long-lasting. Your Mungo towel won’t last you a season – it’ll last a lifetime.

5. Compact

Less bulky than a traditional terry cloth, a flat weave towel can easily be rolled up to squeeze into a backpack, or folded for storage. Planning your next holiday? Forget about jumping / standing / sitting on your luggage to get the darn things to zip up. A flat weave towel is so light, it might just help you with your packing peeves.

6. 100% Natural Fibres

Mungo flat weave towels are made from cotton and/or linen. These fibres are praised for being soft, durable and hypoallergenic – making your Mungo flat weave less likely to give you any sniffs or snuffles. These versatile fibres are also fabulous at regulating temperature – so whatever the season, you’ll feel ‘just right.’

7. Versatile Bath, Pool or Beach Towel

A Mungo flat weave towel is just as at home in the bathroom as on the beach. And with our extensive range of designs and colourways, we’ve got something for even the toughest towel critic. We’ve even heard of our towels being used as picnic blankets, skirts and tablecloths.

8. Sand Repellent

Avoid taking the beach home with you. With its flat weave nature, this towel has less nooks and crannies for sand to get stuck in. #beachbonus

9. Fresher for Longer

Woven from cotton and/or linen, our flat weave towels are anti-microbial and anti-bacterial, making them naturally resistant to mildew. You don’t have to wash them after each use, and they’ll smell fresher for longer.

10. Transparency & Traceability

Part of the reason we built our very own mill was a commitment to radical transparency. We wanted to move away from ‘big industry’, and the harsh working conditions and environmental harm that comes with that. At Mungo we play a hand in each step of the process – from the design right through to the final product – and we we value each person that plays a role along the way. Your Mungo flat weave towel is no exception. Read more about what we do, and why we do it, here.

11. They Look so Darn Good

We couldn’t forget about the design. Mungo creates classic weaves with a contemporary twist. From timeless stone-coloured towels, to bold and bright statement pieces, there’s surely a towel for everyone.

Having trouble choosing with Mungo towel to take home? We asked our team to pick their favourite Mungo towel. Check out their selections for some inspiration.