The big “canvas” of a beach towel lends itself to big ideas, with room to let designs and colors romp.
For instance, the Los Angeles-based, high-end textile house Fresco has a collection of beach towels reminiscent of antique Southwest-inspired rugs.
They have a faux-faded quality that’s enhanced by the luminous plushness of the Turkish cotton weave. The Golden Eagle features a dramatic bird image, and Mesa Diamond is another evocation of Native American textile art; www.frescotowels.com.
Anthropologie’s carrying a luxe line of beach towels crafted in collaboration with Brazilian fine artist Monica Nador.
Her Cocovado towel designs speak to her work with acrylic paints and stencils in the poorer neighborhoods on the edge of Sao Paolo. Vibrant aqua meets hot red in rich motifs on one towel; sapphire and green hues tint a mosaic pattern; a drum motif is rendered in azure or hot pink; www.anthropologie.com.
Online retailer One King’s Lane has partnered with a number of well-known designers on a beach towel collection that rolls out through the summer.
Proceeds support the designers’ preferred charities, including Alpha Workshops, which helps HIV-AIDS victims, and Baby2Baby, which assists Los Angeles families in need.
Celerie Kemble, Tracy Reese, Nanette Lepore, Rebecca Minkoff, Steven Alan and Robert Verdi are among the designers. Reese’s was one of the debut collections, with wave and tropical-plant motifs in Popsicle hues; www.one-kingslane.com.
Target has some photo-printed beach towels with appeal to both kids and adults: A gentle golden retriever holds a newspaper on one; goldfish swim across the expanse of another.
A Ferris wheel, that icon of summer joy, adorns a third.
Find here too Nate Berkus’ collection of Newport-worthy preppy beach towels with designs like labyrinths, diagonal stripes and other geometrics rendered in navy, sunny yellow, aqua and red; www.target.com.
For older kids, Pottery Barn Teen has towels with surfer-cool designs like hibiscus flowers, Tiki prints and tie-dye patterns in summery hues, as well as sporty towels for baseball fans, with team logos; www.pbteen.com.
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