This gift set contains two 33cm x 35cm hand towels & delivered in a Foo Tokyo original gift box. The gift box can be customized with or without noshi (gift wrapping paper), or with a ribbon on the towel itself or on the outer box, depending on the purpose. We hope this gift set will bring a peaceful time at home to your loved ones.
Material: 100% organic cotton
Place of production: Imabari
Size: 33 cm x 35 cm
Weight: 38.6g
A story of colors that conveys the transition of time
Foo Tokyo towels come in three colors: white, pink, and charcoal gray. This color development was inspired by the story of a single cherry tree.
It is the Usuzumizakura, one of the five most famous cherry trees in Japan. The cherry tree is 1,500 years old and is known for its pink buds that turn white as they reach full bloom, and then turn pale black as they mature over time, hence the name. The three colors evoke the beauty of the transition of time.
About Organic Cotton Towel
Foo Towel is a towel that makes you breathe a sigh of relief when you bury your face in it.
Foo towels are made of rare organic cotton, which accounts for less than 0.001% of the world's cotton production. The cotton is harvested by hand so as not to damage the fibers themselves, which makes the towels exceptionally soft even when the fibers are twisted into yarn.
Organic cotton from India is turned into high-grade yarn, which is then made into "Foo towels" in Imabari, a famous towel production area. Foo towels are highly regarded for their quality and are sold at Ugenta, a luxury ryokan in Kibune, Kyoto, as well as at major department stores.
The towel is embroidered with an original logo featuring a bird symbolizing "peace and happiness" in the corner to express Foo Tokyo's wish for "a truly relaxing time.
Three key points
1. Outstanding water absorbency
The yarn itself contains air, so when floated in water, it begins to sink within 5 seconds, boasting outstanding water absorbency. It gently wraps wet skin after a bath and absorbs moisture quickly.
2. Long-lasting fluffiness
The softness of the cotton is processed from the yarn-making stage so that it does not become stiff even after washing, and the fluffy feeling is maintained.
Imabari Towel Brand Certified Product
This is a sign of high quality towel products that have passed our own quality control standards and are produced in the Imabari towel production area. This certification is only given to a select few products that have passed strict standards for water absorbency, shedding rate, dye fastness, etc. (Certification number: No. 2018-626)
Five points of commitments
1. Commitment to cotton
Foo towels are made from DCH-32, a rare extra-long staple organic cotton that accounts for less than 0.001% of the world's cotton production. The farm is located in Coimbatore, Tamil Nadu in southern India. Although surrounded by a harsh environment with a temperature difference of more than 20°C between day and night, this organic cotton is grown in good health thanks to the blessings of the seasonal winds that blow from the Arabian Sea to the Indian Ocean.
DCH-32" extra-long staple cotton is grown on organic cotton farms contracted by Japanese spinning companies. Organic cotton is cotton grown without genetic modification on land that has not been used pesticides or chemical fertilizers for more than three years. In ordinary non-organic cotton farming, a lot of chemical fertilizers and pesticides are used for the purpose of mass production, in order to stabilize the yield and to harvest the cotton quickly. However, at this farm, instead of using insect repellents to control pests, handmade medicinal herbs are used in accordance with tradition. Furthermore, the cotton is carefully hand-picked one by one to avoid damaging the cotton fibers and maintain the fluffy texture when finished into yarn.
2. Special attention to yarn processing
The yarn used for Foo towels is called "extra sweet twist," which means that the fiber is less twisted than normal yarn, so the fiber itself contains air and is fluffy. On the other hand, less twisting tends to weaken the strength of the yarn, but the use of a sophisticated and special technique called "single-strand gluing," in which the fibers are glued one by one, makes it difficult for the yarn to break even with extra-sweet twisting.
We are also particular about the chemicals used in yarn processing. Instead of the conventional "scouring bleaching" method that uses a large amount of chemicals, we use the "TZ acid enzyme method," which is environmentally and skin-friendly. The TZ acid enzyme method does not use chlorine or caustic soda (sodium hydroxide), which is a strong alkali and acutely toxic substance, so the fibers are not damaged and each fiber is healthy. This makes it possible to finish the product soft to the touch.
3. Environmental consciousness
No environmental hormones, formalin, or fluorescent bleach is used in the yarn processing process, making it safe and secure for both the body and the environment. This allows us to maximize the high water absorbency of cotton without placing a burden on the environment.
4. Particular about the weaving method
In order to pursue softness and lightness, Foo towels are woven with a single thread instead of two twisted twin threads. Furthermore, because delicate yarns are used, the towels are carefully woven over a long period of time on a medium-speed loom to avoid yarn breakage, rather than on a high-speed loom, which is efficient but prone to yarn breakage. This process takes time and requires a high level of skill, but Foo towels are woven with the support of skilled craftsmen in Imabari.
5. Commitment to the region of production
Foo towels are made in Imabari, Ehime, a famous towel production area, with the support of many craftsmen. Imabari is blessed with a mild climate and soft water with few impurities, making it ideal for yarn processing. This soft water is consistently used in towel production, which has a positive effect on the whiteness and coloration of cotton yarns and fabrics.
In addition, to make a single towel, related factories for twisting, dyeing, sewing, and other processes are required. Because Imabari is dotted with related factories, it is possible to finish everything from weaving to finished products within the production area. Foo towels made in this blessed environment and by the hands of Japanese craftsmen are towels that bring out the true qualities of the threads and fabrics.
This gift set includes one 33cm x 35cm hand towel, and is delivered in a Foo Tokyo original gift box. The gift box can be customized with or without noshi (gift wrapping paper), or with a ribbon on the towel itself or on the outer box, depending on the purpose. We hope this gift set will bring a peaceful time at home to your loved ones.
