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Divia Harilela

Contributing writer for Style by SCMP, specialising in fashion, beauty and lifestyle


I was enjoying a cup of tea at a friend’s house recently when I spied a gorgeous piece of fabric hanging on her oven door. It was a tea towel she had bought at a famous chateau in France’s Loire Valley for around 50 euros (HK$460).
While most people would balk at that price, I didn’t blink an eye (I confess: I once spent US$100 on a handwoven jacquard tea towel). It wasn’t long before we were fawning over the delicate embroidery and beauty of an expensive but nonetheless desirable piece of organic cotton.

As it turns out, we are far from alone in our obsession. While collecting tea towels isn’t a new trend – they are a fixture at every souvenir shop and have numerous dedicated hashtags on TikTok – this kitchen staple has evolved from something practical into a well-designed, decorative item that’s displayed with pride in stylish kitchens and homes.
Need further proof? Even artists like Tracey Emin, designer Nicky Haslam and luxury brand Burberry have created dishcloths that combine fashion and function.
“We now see our home as an extension of ourselves – and the pieces in it, including the more essential items, are representative of our style and values,” says Rebecca Udall, whose eponymous label encompasses luxury linens and other homeware items.

“There is also the realisation that if we are investing in beautiful kitchens and dressing them with timeless table linens, handprinted crockery and Murano glassware, for example, then we want the more practical pieces like tea towels to meet this same standard,” she says.
Tea towels originated in 18th-century England, when they were used at teatime to cover tea trays and insulate pots. Upper-class ladies would also use the towels to dry expensive porcelain and glassware, embroidering them with designs that were passed down as family heirlooms. Thanks to their versatility and durability, these lightweight cloths had become a household essential by the 19th century, although designs remained simple.
We now see our home as an extension of ourselves – and the pieces in it, including the more essential items, are representative of our style and values
Rebecca Udall
Today the humble tea towel has undergone a luxe transformation not just in terms of style but also quality. While traditional fabrics like cotton and linen remain popular, brands are now turning to heritage manufacturers such as Le Jacquard Français, whose artisanal expertise elevates the tea towel into something genuinely covetable.
Udall’s collection, for example, is made from European sourced linen, which is naturally antibacterial, moth resistant, lint-free and fast drying. Venice-based label Chiarastella Cattana is known for its vintage-inspired styles made in northern Italy by manufacturers that have been creating textiles since the 19th century. Highlights include colourful abstract jacquards made from cotton and linen, and a loose gauze linen finished with chic embroidered motifs.

Equally striking are creations by South African brand Mungo, which employs time-honoured weaving techniques such as waffle weave and huckaback to produce dishcloths that are not only beautiful but are also good at absorbing water and drying quickly. The company’s bestselling oversized Boma Cloth features a textured diamond weave pattern and is available in an earthy palette that wouldn’t look out of place on a fashion runway.
“There is a growing appreciation for quality pieces that are made to last, both in construction and in design. Practicality is key – tea towels need to work and can also be beautiful pieces of textile at the same time. Durability is equally important,” says Tessa Holding, creative director of Mungo.
“In terms of aesthetics, graphic weaves with considered use of colour are resonating strongly in our range. Structure and pattern are playing a bigger role, allowing textiles to feel both functional and visually distinctive,” she says.

Tea towels now run the gamut from timeless and classic – stripes remain a perennial favourite – to boldly colourful and whimsical. Stand-outs include artisanal brands such as Stamperia Bertozzi, which specialises in hand-printed textiles. The company’s designs are made using a centuries-old Italian block-printing technique and vegetable-based dyes, making them as sustainable as they are beautiful. British brand The Conran Shop, meanwhile, has earned a loyal following for its tea towel designs – many of them food-inspired – featuring hand-drawn, block-printed or artist-commissioned patterns.

Also trending are vintage-inspired and nostalgic motifs. The Lion Rock Press, which is known for its original Hong Kong-themed gifts, sells thousands of tea towels each month. The designs – capturing the city, its culture and most iconic landmarks – are created by a team of in-house designers, with some prints commissioned specially from emerging local artists.
“Tea towels have transformed from utility to identity. They offer an easy, affordable way to add character to personal spaces where they’re used to emphasise personality and share subtle storytelling,” says founder Claire Yates. “We’ve found that many people will buy a beautifully designed tea towel as an accessible piece of art that can be displayed, used or gifted. That’s what makes it so commercially successful as a product.”


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From hand-printed Italian linens to Hong Kong keepsakes, the dishcloth has transcended its humble origins to become a genuine design object


From hand-printed Italian linens to Hong Kong keepsakes, the dishcloth has transcended its humble origins to become a genuine design object.


Why luxury tea towels are the ultimate kitchen and home decor upgrade

.css-1c6uqr6{color:inherit;font-weight:inherit;font-size:inherit;font-family:inherit;line-height:inherit;overflow-wrap:break-word;}From hand-printed Italian linens to Hong Kong keepsakes, the dishcloth has transcended its humble origins to become a genuine design object

From hand-printed Italian linens to Hong Kong keepsakes, the dishcloth has transcended its humble origins to become a genuine design object