Knitted vs Woven Towels: Understanding the Difference

When it comes to choosing the right towel for your care, healthcare or hospitality setting, the first thing most people look for is quality and comfort. But behind the softness and absorbency, there’s an important detail that makes a big difference in performance: how the towel is made.

At MIP UK, we offer two distinct towel ranges designed to meet different needs: our Evolution Towels and our Hunsbury® Towels. Both are built for healthcare, long-term care and commercial laundry use, but each offers its own unique advantages.

The key difference lies in the construction technique:

• Evolution Towels (Knitted) – Our knitted towels range, made from interlocking loops of yarn. This creates flexibility, stretch and a naturally softer handle.
• Hunsbury® Towels (Woven) – Our woven towels range, made by weaving yarns over and under each other on a loom, creating a structured traditional towel with more defined texture and form.

Evolution Towels

Our knitted Evolution Towels are designed to help reduce laundering costs and extend product life.

Key features and benefits include:

• Reduced snagging and shrinkage: The knitted structure provides stretch and resilience, helping the towel maintain its shape even after repeated washes.
• Cost-effective & Energy Efficient: The looped knit design and poly-cotton content allows moisture to evaporate more quickly, cutting down drying time, energy use, and carbon emissions.
• Thermally disinfectable: Can be washed up to 75°C and dried on a medium heat setting, making it suitable for healthcare environments.
• Easy laundry sorting: Simple stripe system identifies towel size quickly and accurately.
• Colour options: Available in a range of 16 different contemporary shades.

Hunsbury Towels

Our Hunsbury® Towels are woven from 100% cotton, offering the familiar feel and structure of a traditional towel while standing up to the demands of commercial use.

Key features and benefits:

• Affordable: A cost-effective option in the market.
• Soft, home-like comfort: The 100% cotton fibres create a naturally plush and absorbent texture for users.
• Proven durability: The woven construction and reinforced double-stitched hems help these towels withstand repeated laundering.
• Easy laundry sorting: Simple stripe system (0 to 3 stripes) identifies towel size quickly and accurately.
• Colour variety: Choose from 16 colour options, from calming neutrals to bold tones, to match any setting.
• Safe and certified: Oeko-Tex Standard 100 certified, free from harmful dyes and chemicals.

Choosing the Right Towel for Your Setting

Both towel types deliver exceptional quality and performance in care and healthcare environments. If you prioritise efficiency and quick turnaround in laundry, a knitted towel like the Evolution range offers shorter drying times and energy savings. If you prefer traditional cotton feel and a structured finish, the woven Hunsbury® Towels provide a familiar touch that residents appreciate.  Ultimately, many care providers make a choice based on their particular needs: knitted towels in high-usage facilities where fast turnaround in the laundry is a priority, or the woven towels, where a preferential cost of acquisition is key to their decision.

At MIP, our goal is to make textiles that last, perform and support sustainable operations. Both Evolution and Hunsbury® towels are designed with commercial laundering, comfort, and carbon reduction in mind.

Whichever you choose, you’ll be investing in proven MIP quality backed by decades of experience supplying the UK care and healthcare sectors.

🧺 Explore our full towel range today:
https://www.mipuk.co.uk/products/#36