The History of the Bathroom Robe: From Ottoman Palaces to Your Home

The bathroom robe hanging in your closet has a history spanning thousands of years and multiple continents.

What began as simple cloth wrapped around the body after bathing in ancient Rome became an elaborate symbol of status in Ottoman palaces, transformed into a mark of sophistication for 18th-century gentlemen, and eventually evolved into the plush, absorbent bathrobe we know today.

Understanding this history reveals something important: the robe has always been more than a practical garment. It has represented comfort, ritual, and the deliberate slowing down of daily life.

Ancient Origins: Bathing as Ritual

The concept of wrapping oneself in a garment after bathing dates to ancient civilizations. In Egypt, linen wraps provided coverage and sun protection after cleansing. Greeks and Romans used draped cloth after visits to public bathhouses, where bathing served social purposes as much as hygienic ones.

The Romans built elaborate thermae throughout their empire. These public baths were gathering places where citizens discussed politics, conducted business, and socialized. The post-bathing garment wasn't merely functional. It marked the transition from the public ritual of bathing back to daily life.

When the Roman Empire fell, the Byzantine Empire continued bathing traditions, adding their own cultural elements. This practice would eventually flow into the Islamic world, where it transformed into something extraordinary.

The Ottoman Hammam: Where the Modern Robe Began

The Turkish hammam represents the most significant influence on the bathroom robe as we know it.

In Ottoman culture, the hammam was far more than a place to wash. It served as a social center where marriages were celebrated, business was conducted, and community bonds were strengthened. The 17th-century Turkish traveler Evliya Çelebi recorded 151 hammams in Istanbul alone.

After emerging from the steam rooms of the hammam, bathers would wrap themselves in a peştemal, a lightweight cotton cloth. Over time, these wraps evolved into thicker, softer robes that resembled the modern bathrobe. In the palaces, robes made from luxurious embroidered fabrics became symbols of elegance and wealth.

Henry Christy, son of an English towel manufacturer, discovered this tradition while traveling in Istanbul in the 1840s. He saw the looped pile fabric that would become known as terry cloth and brought the concept back to England. Working with designer Samuel Holt, the Christy company began industrial production of "Royal Turkish Towels" in 1850, with approval from Queen Victoria herself.

This innovation changed everything. Terry cloth, with its thousands of small loops creating remarkable absorbency, became the foundation for the modern terry cloth robe.

The Banyan: Robes as Status Symbols

While Ottoman bathing culture was shaping one branch of robe history, a parallel evolution was occurring in Europe.

The banyan, a loose-fitting robe worn by gentlemen from the late 17th through early 19th centuries, became a powerful symbol of intellectual refinement. Named after Indian merchants (banian in Gujarati), these garments were made from luxurious fabrics including silk brocade, damask, and fine cotton.

Benjamin Franklin owned banyans, as did other American founders. The physician and Declaration of Independence signer Benjamin Rush observed that studious men were always depicted wearing gowns in their libraries. The banyan represented a deliberate rejection of formal daytime dress in favor of comfort and intellectual pursuit.

Men commissioned portraits of themselves wearing banyans, often paired with turbans, as statements of sophistication and worldliness. The English diarist Samuel Pepys had himself painted in one as early as 1666.

These weren't exactly bathrobes in the modern sense. They were worn over shirts and breeches as comfortable alternatives to formal coats. But they established the principle that now defines the bathrobe: the robe as an assertion of private comfort, worn in spaces where formality gives way to ease.

The Victorian Transformation

By the 19th century, the dressing gown had become standard for both men and women in affluent households.

Advances in plumbing brought bathing into the home. As private bathrooms became more common, the need for a dedicated post-bathing garment grew. Earlier bathrobes were often floor-length and featured large hoods to keep the wearer warm. Over time, styles became more tailored, and the hood largely disappeared.

The introduction of terry cloth transformed the bathrobe from a garment worn for modesty into one designed specifically for drying the body. The looped pile construction provided something no fabric had offered before: true absorbency combined with softness.

Victorian women wore elaborate dressing gowns while performing morning routines, taking tea with family, or entertaining close friends in private quarters. An 1881 issue of The Queen magazine noted the growing fashion for young ladies to meet in their rooms wearing "very smart dressing-gowns."

The 20th Century: Bathrobes for Everyone

The early 1900s brought the bathroom robe to American households at scale.

Advances in textile manufacturing made terry cloth and other comfortable fabrics affordable for middle-class families. Department stores began stocking robes for both men and women. By the 1950s, the bathrobe had become a household staple, worn for warmth after bathing and during morning routines.

Japanese kimono styles influenced design during this period. The wrap-front construction, loose fit, and belt closure that we now associate with standard bathrobes drew from this aesthetic. Cotton robes in various styles became widely available.

The late 20th century saw the rise of the spa robe. Luxury hotels began providing plush robes for guests, creating an association between quality bathrobes and the hospitality experience. Properties tested robes rigorously, requiring materials that could survive commercial laundering while maintaining softness.

The Modern Bathroom Robe

Today's bathrobes represent the culmination of centuries of evolution.

The best modern robes combine innovations from multiple traditions. Terry cloth provides absorbency. Microfiber offers durability and a smooth drape. Waffle weave delivers lightweight breathability. Cotton robes remain popular for their natural feel.

At Robeworks, we use a construction that draws on this full history: a microfiber exterior for the luxurious drape reminiscent of silk banyans, paired with a terry cloth interior for the absorbency that Henry Christy brought from Ottoman traditions. Our robes weigh approximately three pounds, reflecting the substantial quality that luxury hotels require.

We've been making bathrobes in Los Angeles for 30 years, supplying properties like Ojai Valley Inn, Chateau Marmont, and Ashford Castle. The standards these hotels demand, robes that maintain quality through constant use and commercial laundering, connect directly to the traditions of the Ottoman hammam, where robes needed to serve guests day after day.

Why History Matters

Understanding the history of the bathroom robe reveals something about what makes a good one.

The hammam tradition teaches us that bathing is ritual, not just hygiene. The robe marks the transition from the cleansing experience back to daily life. It deserves to be substantial, comfortable, and worthy of the moment.

The banyan tradition teaches us that comfort at home is a deliberate choice, not laziness. A quality robe represents investment in your own daily experience.

The evolution of materials teaches us that innovation serves tradition. Terry cloth didn't replace the function of post-bathing garments, but was the natural evolution. Modern constructions combining multiple materials continue this progression.

When you put on a quality bathroom robe, you're participating in a practice that spans civilizations. The specific garment is modern, but the act of wrapping yourself in comfort after bathing is ancient.

Explore Our Collection

Every Robeworks robe is handcrafted in the USA, made to order specifically for you.

The Shawl Robe: Traditional shawl collar with three pockets.

The Hooded Robe: Added functionality for hair drying and extra warmth.

The Short Spa Robe: Lighter coverage for warmer months.