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Kontex Imabari Towels

Kontex towels, woven in Imabari, Ehime since 1934, from Japan to the United Kingdom. MOKU, LANA, Heather waffle and handkerchief sizes for everyday use.

Soft local water suits the gentle dyeing the region has become known for. Prices are shown in GBP at checkout, shipped from our studio in Kobe, Japan.

Handkerchief, face, hand and bath sizes, with cotton-linen alongside. A single towel ships for £16 by FedEx in 2–10 business days. Duty and import tax are collected at checkout, so nothing is owed on delivery.

Ships from JapanFlat Rate £16 GBP2-10 Business Days via FedEx

Kontex towels in this collection

Showing 1-21 of 21 results

Compare the towels

Kontex towel series compared by material, weave and size.

TowelMaterialWeave and feelSizesBest for
MOKU Light100% cottonThin, flat weave; packs small and dries fastest of the pile-free weaves
  • S 28 × 28 cm (11 × 11 in)
  • M 33 × 100 cm (13 × 39.4 in)
  • L 60 × 120 cm (23.6 × 47.2 in)
Travel, gym, sauna, everyday
LANA100% cottonWool-knit-like weave; light with soft volume and a dry touch
  • S 36 × 36 cm (14.2 × 14.2 in)
  • M 36 × 85 cm (14.2 × 33.5 in)
  • L 55 × 110 cm (21.7 × 43.3 in)
  • XL 85 × 145 cm (33.5 × 57.1 in)
Hand and bath; XL doubles as a blanket or shawl
BRERA100% cottonLarge waffle texture; touches less skin, stays comfortable when damp
  • S 36 × 36 cm (14.2 × 14.2 in)
  • M 36 × 85 cm (14.2 × 33.5 in)
  • L 60 × 110 cm (23.6 × 43.3 in)
  • XL 80 × 140 cm (31.5 × 55.1 in)
Face, hand, bath
VINTAGE WAFFLE95% cotton, 5% linenHoneycomb waffle; dry, non-sticky feel, quicker drying than pile
  • HK 23 × 23 cm (9.1 × 9.1 in)
  • M 36 × 83 cm (14.2 × 32.7 in)
  • L 58 × 110 cm (22.8 × 43.3 in)
  • XL 78 × 145 cm (30.7 × 57.1 in)
Face, hand, bath; XL as a light blanket
HEATHER WAFFLE70% cotton, 30% linenWaffle weave with linen; crisp and dry, softens with washing
  • S 38 × 40 cm (15 × 15.7 in)
  • M 38 × 85 cm (15 × 33.5 in)
  • L 65 × 115 cm (25.6 × 45.3 in)
  • XL 80 × 140 cm (31.5 × 55.1 in)
Face, hand, bath
MOKU LINEN60% cotton, 40% linenLight flat weave with a crisp linen texture; quick-drying
  • M 33 × 100 cm (13 × 39.4 in)
  • L 70 × 140 cm (27.6 × 55.1 in)
Kitchen, sauna, bath, beach, travel

Sizes are given in centimetres, with approximate inch equivalents.

MOKU SERIES

Explore lightweight, quick-dry MOKU towels

Compare five compact Imabari towels for travel, sauna, sport and everyday use.

Japanese Towel Guide

How Japanese towels differ from Western terry, and how to choose between the Kontex weaves in this collection.

What is a Japanese towel?

Japanese towels are generally thinner and lighter than the dense terry towels common in Europe and North America. They are woven for absorbency relative to their weight, quick drying, and comfort through humid summers, rather than for maximum plushness. A typical Japanese bath towel weighs less, takes little space on a rail or in luggage, and line-dries within hours. The lightness is not a compromise, it is the point.

What makes Imabari towels different?

Imabari, a coastal city in Ehime prefecture on the island of Shikoku, has been Japan’s principal towel-weaving region for more than a century. Spinning, dyeing, weaving and finishing are concentrated within one small area, and the soft local water suits gentle dyeing. Kontex has woven towels in Imabari since 1934, and every towel in this collection is woven there.

Ordering from outside Japan

We ship worldwide from Japan. Prices appear in your local currency where supported, and shipping is calculated at checkout for your destination. Delivery times and any import duties or taxes vary by country, details are on the shipping policy page.

Questions about Kontex towels

Does ambiant ship Kontex towels to the UK?

Yes. ambiant ships Kontex towels from its studio in Kobe, Japan to the UK. A single towel ships for £16 by FedEx in 2–10 business days. Duty and import tax are collected at checkout, so nothing is owed on delivery.

What is a Kontex towel?

Kontex is a towel maker founded in 1934 in Imabari, Ehime, the region that produces most of Japan’s towels. Spinning, dyeing, weaving and finishing are carried out in Japan, and the range covers waffle, gauze, pile and quick-drying cotton in handkerchief, face, hand and bath sizes.

Are Kontex towels genuine Imabari towels?

Yes. Kontex weaves in Imabari, Ehime prefecture, which is the recognised origin for Imabari towels. The soft local water suits the gentle dyeing the region is known for, and the mill has worked there since 1934.

How much is shipping to the UK?

£16 by FedEx for a typical single-towel order, arriving in 2–10 business days. That is for the median towel at 150 g plus 200 g of packaging; lighter towels such as MOKU Light cost less and bath sizes a little more, and the exact rate is shown at checkout.

Will I pay customs charges in the UK?

No. Duty and import tax for the UK are calculated and collected at checkout, so the carrier will not invoice you on delivery.

Which Kontex towel should I choose?

Waffle is the everyday all-rounder, gauze is the lightest and quickest to dry, pile is the softest for the bath, and the MOKU series is the thinnest for travel and sport. Face and hand sizes are the usual starting point.