Handmade Towels: Jennifer’s Hamam
Traditional Turkish towels get an organic upgrade
The new year has us updating our old routines around the house, and fresh linens seem like one of the easiest ways to make a clean start. This week, we’ve gathered up five beautifully crafted towels to help spruce up the bath and get us going on cold mornings. For Thursday, the traditionalist’s choice, a pestemel from Jennifer’s Hamam.
On a recent trip to Istanbul, we went in search of a set of traditional, Turkish pestemels for souvenirs and luckily stumbled across Jennifer’s Hamam by Jennifer Gaudet. Originally designed for Ottoman-era hamams, the pestemel is the Turkish answer to the towel. Lightweight and smooth to the touch, Gaudet’s pestemels are made from organic cotton and handwoven on traditional looms. The craftsmanship behind her towels is evident in the way each row is finished and anchored lengthways by thin twists of fringe.
Jennifer’s Hamam pestemels are available in a variety of colors and patterns and can be ordered online through Jennifer’s Hamam. Those visiting Istanbul can also find a selection at Gaudet’s shop at Arasta Bazaar, No. 135, Sultanahmet, Fatih, 34400.
Images by Kat Herriman
