GLOSSARY
Towel & Linen
Procurement terminology for hospitality, healthcare, and wellness buyers.
15+
Terms
B2B
Focus
2026
Updated
- GSM (Grams per Square Meter)The weight of a textile fabric per square meter — the primary specification for towel quality and absorbency.
- Ring-Spun CottonCotton yarn produced by continuously twisting and thinning cotton fibers into a strong, soft thread — the standard for hospitality towels.
- Combed CottonRing-spun cotton that has been additionally combed to remove short fibers and impurities, producing an ultra-soft, lint-reduced premium fabric.
- Terry ClothA looped pile fabric woven to create absorbent loops on one or both sides — the standard construction for bath towels and robes.
- Dobby WeaveA decorative woven border pattern created by a dobby loom attachment, commonly seen as geometric texture on hotel towel edges.
- Cam BorderA flat, satin-weave stripe woven into the towel end — a standard institutional finishing detail for hotel and healthcare linens.
- Par LevelThe minimum quantity of linen inventory needed to sustain operations without laundry delays — typically 3-par for hotels.
- OEKO-TEX® CertificationAn independent textile safety certification confirming a product contains no harmful substances above permitted limits — valued in healthcare, spa, and eco hospitality.
- Thread CountThe number of threads woven per square inch of fabric — relevant for sheets and flat linens, but largely inapplicable to towels.
- PercaleA plain-weave cotton or cotton-blend fabric with a thread count of 200+, known for its crisp, cool feel — the standard for hotel flat sheets.
- SateenA cotton fabric woven in a satin weave pattern (4-over-1-under), producing a silky, lustrous surface — used in luxury hotel and spa linens.
- MicrofiberSynthetic fiber less than 1 denier (finer than silk) woven into ultra-soft, fast-drying fabric — used in face cloths, cleaning towels, and spa specialty items.
- Cotton/Poly BlendA fabric combining cotton and polyester fibers — faster drying and lower cost than pure cotton, but less absorbent and less soft.
- Healthcare-Grade LinenLinen certified or specified for clinical environments — lint-free construction, bleach-compatible, and compliant with HLAC/TRSA laundry standards.
- Bleach-Resistant TowelTowels dyed with colorfast, bleach-stable pigments that resist fading and discoloration when laundered with chlorine bleach — the standard for salon and poolside applications.