Towels seem so ubiquitous now, that it is easy to forget that they had to be invented by somebody. All cultures and countries ensure that towels are on offer when we visit their hotels and guest-houses – but there are still those who stake a claim on being the place from which all towels originated.

The country in question may not seem so eccentric for claiming such a thing when we think about its unique contribution to ablutions – the Turkish bath.

Turkey is the place where most historians of such things agree that the modern towel originated – in the city of Bursa to be precise, which is still famous for making so-called "Turkish towels."

The towels of Bursa were originally made of cotton or linen, and by the 18th century were also constructed with a central looped pile section.

Originally, such towels were destined for a bride-to-be's ceremonial bath before her wedding – at the historic Turkish hamam. Different towels were made available for the shoulder, hips and head. This elaborate arrangement was made keeping the special Turkish baths in mind.

Weavers became famous for their own variations on the towels, which they referred to as “havly” - the modern Turkish word for towel is still “havlu”. But where old-style weavers could only produce three or four towels a day, modern weaving techniques have allowed the style to be copied and produced across the globe.Nowadays such fluffy and warm towels are used in bathrooms all over the world with far less ceremony than their originators could have imagined.