Step into summer 50s style with Madcap England and the 'Monte' Towelling Ringer Tee and 'Salton' Towelling Shirt.
Seeing a resurgence in popularity in the past few years, terry towelling is once again a cool choice to chill out in during the summer months. For a fabric so evocative of the 50s, 60s and 70s the material has a suprisingly long history, with even the ancient Egyptians thought to have utilised a varient of the cloth.
It was in the Victorian era that the fabric eventually hit Europe, with the material then known as Royal Turkish Towelling due to connection with the Ottoman Empire. The material even had the Royal patronage of Queen Victoria although its use at the time didn't extend through into summer fashions.
Naturally the fabric still needed some refinement to take it from bathroom to beach, so the French added a little more sophistication during the inter war period. Now given the name of 'French Terry' or 'Terry Towelling' as a result of the French word 'tire' (pull) which referenced the special looms used to create those distinctive loops.
The Madcap England 'Salton' Towelling Shirt.
By the late 50s the fabric had been further refined with the outer side smoother than the inner, unlike traditional towels which were looped both sides. This was the period where Terry Towelling really hit the beach, becoming something of a staple of the American summer season.
In the 60s it was time for Terry Towelling to hit the big screen, courtesy of the famous (or infamous depending on your taste in fashion) poolside attire of James Bond in the 1964 'Goldfinger'. Perhaps only a young Sean Connery could pull off wearing a baby-blue belted playsuit with super-short shorts whilst looking effortlessly cool. The titular Auric Goldfinger got in the act too, sporting a terry cotton lounge shirt, naturally in his favourite colour. The material would continue to pop up in future installments of the Bond franchise, but gradually the appeal would wane on this poolside favourite.
Sean Connery as James Bond in the famous 'Goldfinger' Terry towelling onesie
Terry towelling gradually declined in use as beachwear, become increasingly best known in the world of sports and the striped head and wrist sweatbands of Bjorn Borg and John McEnroe. The early cool of Bond had gradually decended into the kitsch of yesteryear.
However these things thankfully come full cycle and the 2020s has seen a resurgence of this classic fabric. It has now deservedly been promoted to retro cool status, and people can once again enjoy the luxurious summertime comfort of terry cotton in the knowledge they're doing so in style.
