LE TISSU ÉPONGE : UNE SECONDE PEAU

History of terry cloth
Terrycloth is making a comeback. Terry cloth was very much in vogue in the 1980s, initially reserved for sports enthusiasts for its technical properties. Then it opened up to a wider public keen to try out this very comfortable material. But its origins go back much further than the 80s, since terry cloth originated in France in the 19th century. However, despite its French origins, it was in England that it was mass-produced, our neighbours across the Channel calling it "Terry" from the French word "tirer" because the fabric had to be pulled during one of the manufacturing stages.

It is the little curls that give terry its primary characteristic: absorption. This capacity made the fabric ideal for making bath and household linen, and is still the case today. It was its absorbency and comfort that gave rise to the idea of adapting this fabric to ready-to-wear, and stars known for their sophisticated looks helped to popularise it, such as Sean Connery in Goldfinger. After being tucked away in the wardrobe for several years, terrycloth returned to the wardrobe with the sportswear wave of the early 2000s. Today, this fabric is being reinterpreted in a slightly retro spirit that's very much on trend.