These are original French tea towels dating back to the late 19th century, when this distinctive fabric first appeared. Millions of meters of this raw linen were woven in what were then small factories to meet the sudden surge in demand. Every French household wanted this now-iconic look in their kitchens, particularly the bold vertical blood-red stripes. Over time, variations of these stripes were introduced, and their popularity only grew. By the 1920s, however, tastes had changed, and many of these towels were set aside in armoires, waiting for another day. In recent years, there has been a remarkable resurgence of interest in these textiles—this time embraced by a new generation, both in France and beyond, who are discovering their history for the first time. The fabric produced was either pure linen or métis, a blend of 65% linen and 35% cotton. These towels were true workhorses of the household, designed to withstand harsh washing methods. Before washing machines became common in the 1930s, laundry day—typically Monday—meant a trip to the local washhouses by the village stream. Armed with wicker baskets, people would scrub and beat their linens against smooth stones under often difficult conditions. This set of six tea towels features 2 different tea towels. 4 are the classic hemp fabric and 2 tea towels are linen with both virtually the same red border with 2 stripes. 4 tea towels T.F. 70cm x 50cm 2 tea towels M 70cm x 45cm