Those neat bands near the ends of your towels are called dobby borders, and they’re far more than a pretty pattern. Woven on a special dobby loom, they act like a support frame for the towel, reinforcing the edges so they don’t fray, stretch, or twist out of shape after countless cycles in the wash.

They hold everything together while the rest of the fabric takes the beating.

But that strength comes with a trade-off: those borders are tightly woven, which makes them significantly less absorbent than the fluffy terry loops in the middle. When you rub your skin with that area, you’re not drying as efficiently as you think.

To keep your towels in good condition—and actually get dry—use the soft, looped center for soaking up water, and see the dobby border for what it really is: structure and style, not the working heart of the towel.