The Things We Treasure
Why I’ve Spent 15 Years Stocking Up These French Kitchen Towels
I used to travel to find them—now they go everywhere I go.
Photo by Drue Wagner
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20 Comments
Shauna J.
January 9, 2021
I have bought dish towels for gifts all over France and I wish I would have kept them all! . The last time I was there we went to the Beauville
Shop and I thought I died and went to Heaven.. Not vintage but gorgeous! I bought them for gifts and one friend framed hers....
Shop and I thought I died and went to Heaven.. Not vintage but gorgeous! I bought them for gifts and one friend framed hers....
Gary S.
January 12, 2021
Thanks for the tip. I wish I knew about Beauville the last time I was in Ribeauville, a town I very much liked.
Pat E.
August 16, 2020
I learned from m French Canadian mother what a joy it is to collect lovely dish towels from your travels. I have many languishing in drawers because they are “too pretty to use”. This article has inspired me to get them out and put them to work. What on earth am I waiting for??
Javaid I.
August 14, 2020
I am manufacturer of kitchen towel since 1954
Any body interested in buying can contact us on. [email protected]
Any body interested in buying can contact us on. [email protected]
Claudia T.
February 26, 2020
I love to get kitchen towels as a souvenir as well. Many aren't tough French linens but thin little things- the towels that are too thin for kitchen use, or almost-too-pretty, are used as hand towels in the bathroom. I hate the feeling of wiping your hands on a damp hand towel, and tea towels dry so much faster. As new ones wear down and start to get grody they are downgraded to kitchen towels.
mnr_t
February 17, 2020
I have a beautiful pair of Christmas kitchen towels from Upim in Florence, bought when my sister studied there in the early 80s I love checking out dime stores when I travel!! Such swell memories❤️
gothicgourdgirl
February 17, 2020
My family is all Belgian. As a kid, when family and friends visited my grandparents in Canada (we were lucky to live next door) they invariably brought two things, and I mean every Belgian, and every trip-knives and chocolate.
They are small Little pairing knives, for peeling potatoes, for example, with plain wooden handles, that you just can’t get here. Belgian chocolate is a given (and not that crappy Godiva, although many many years ago it was good). When going through my grandmothers’ estate things, and more recently, my aunt, there was a scramble to see who could get the knives. We use them so often, and hard-core (in the dishwasher *gasp*) that they don’t last a lifetime, but seem to get sharper as time passes.
“Outsiders” always thought it weird that we were given knives as gifts. They were coveted reminders of our culture, our homeland, that we just can’t get. And now with flight security, alas, the treasured Flemish knives in the suitcases are a thing of the past.
And, my last one recently broke so I don’t know what to do, since they can’t be shipped, I don’t think.
They are small Little pairing knives, for peeling potatoes, for example, with plain wooden handles, that you just can’t get here. Belgian chocolate is a given (and not that crappy Godiva, although many many years ago it was good). When going through my grandmothers’ estate things, and more recently, my aunt, there was a scramble to see who could get the knives. We use them so often, and hard-core (in the dishwasher *gasp*) that they don’t last a lifetime, but seem to get sharper as time passes.
“Outsiders” always thought it weird that we were given knives as gifts. They were coveted reminders of our culture, our homeland, that we just can’t get. And now with flight security, alas, the treasured Flemish knives in the suitcases are a thing of the past.
And, my last one recently broke so I don’t know what to do, since they can’t be shipped, I don’t think.
Gary S.
February 20, 2020
You might do a little poking around on the internet - someone may indeed be shipping them, or has i ported them for US distribution. As to traveling with knives, as long as they are in checked luggage you'll be fine. In fact, it is our recent practice to always bring back one of the terrific bread knives from Poilane. We buy it to use while in Paris (it seems such a shame to be in the land of beautiful bread and have a lousy knife that rips it apart...) and then bring it home in the checked luggage and gift it to someone sometime that year.
BARBARA M.
February 16, 2020
I purchased my first linen towel woven in France in a small kitchen store in Florida. I love it. It brings back memories of a wonderful holiday. Thank you for this story. I started weaving in my late 50's and while I am not going to ever be an accomplished weaver I look at things like woven kitchen towels in a new way. I study the weave patterns, anaylyze the weft and warp and learn from the design and colour ways. I appreciate that you posted the photos because I am going to try some of those patterns - and use some of the same colours. Colour plagarism I call it. Most of the photos show towels that appear to be a plain weave. So they are not fancy but lovely and functional. Can you tell me: are they all linen fibre or are some cotton or a cotton linen blend?
Gary S.
February 17, 2020
My towels are a mix of linen, linen/cotton and all cotton. They are mostly plain weave, though I found a woman at a famer’s market who wove beautiful, colorful checked towels. They were pricey, but sturdy, and very good looking.
Caroline
February 16, 2020
What a sweet article! When I first moved to the US in the 80s my mother used to send me packages of torchons every year because I could never find anything of similar quality here. There is something about French kitchen towels that makes them uniquely resistant to hundreds of washes. Tip: real linen torchons can withstand boiling temperatures and come out beautiful. I inherited some linen tablecloths made by my great grandfather (a weaver) that still look new today!
Gary S.
February 17, 2020
Thanks for the linen tip! If any of my torchon get too full of stains I’ve found a good overnight soak in Borax seems to brighten them considerably.
WnnaBTrvlWrtr
February 11, 2020
I too treasure kitchen towels picked up during my travels. My kitchen has reminders of visits to France, Italy, Spain, Guatemala and Tasmania hanging from the towel bars. They are easy to pack and extras make great gifts. So glad to know others share my souvenir strategy!
Natasha
February 10, 2020
Thank you, Gary, for the fabulous article. My husband and I regularly buy linens (dish towels, table runners, etc.) when we visit his family in France, particularly at the farmers' markets in Provence such as Aix-en-Provence, Apt in the Luberon, etc. The towels are high quality, have beautiful designs and rich, vibrant colors, often featuring motifs like regional foods and nature (olives, olive trees, olive presses, lavender, sunflowers), or simple regional recipes printed on them with related food motifs (aubergine, anchovies or other fish), and are generally very reasonably priced. Many of the market sellers offer progressively lower prices for buying sets of say 3, 5 or 10 towels. We stock up on such dish towels and offer them throughout the year as small gifts to loved ones, neighbors, colleagues, etc. Wrapped around a bottle of wine and tied with a twine bow, they make a great, re-usable, practical gift wrap, too. We have done this for many years and people love them and use them. A beautiful kitchen towel is a memory for us and a treasure that can be shared with others, too.
DARIGOL1717
February 6, 2020
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Jill D.
February 6, 2020
When I travel I purchase Christmas ornaments or other trinkets I use as holiday ornaments. They are small and every year as I decorate I reminisce about all of the wonderful journeys. I love your daily reminder of your travels through the practicality and beauty of a dishtowel.
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