Printed beach towels for summer, lakes, and rivers
This collection of beach towels pays homage to summer in Switzerland and to the culture of swimming in rivers and lakes. As an illustrator and designer from Zurich, I especially love spending warm days by the Limmat, at the lake, or anywhere near the water. Because a good beach towel is just as important as sunscreen, ice cream, and a free spot on the shore, I wanted to design a beach towel that’s not only practical but also looks great.
This is how my illustrated beach towels came to be: colorful beach towels with graphic designs, inspired by summer in Switzerland. They combine style, practicality, and a touch of that vacation vibe—whether you’re by the Limmat, the Aare, the Rhine, Lake Zurich, or the sea.
Muslin bath towels: light, soft, and comfortable
I spent a long time looking for the right fabric for these towels. I finally settled on a lightweight muslin fabric in the style of a Turkish towel, also known as a pestemal, peshtemal, or fouta towel. Unlike traditional pestemal towels, however, these bath towels have a much more modern, playful, and unique look thanks to their large-scale graphic patterns.
The muslin fabric makes these towels especially comfortable: they are light, soft, and fluffy, and feel great against the skin. At the same time, they provide a bit of cushioning when you’re lying on hard surfaces—such as concrete along a riverbank, wooden deck chairs in the bathroom, or rocks by a lake.
Directly woven instead of printed
The designs on these beach towels are woven directly into the fabric rather than printed on afterward. This creates a high-quality textile surface where the design, color, and fabric blend seamlessly into one. The towels feature a beautiful texture, fringes at the ends, and a natural, summery look.
Measuring 90 × 160 cm, they are perfect as a beach towel, bath towel, lightweight picnic blanket, or companion for trips, lakeside outings, and trips to the pool.
Inspired by the Swiss summer
The collection features motifs inspired by summer in Switzerland—from river landscapes to refreshing snacks and aquatic animals. It was especially important to me that the designs didn’t look like traditional beach towels, but rather like graphic illustrations on fabric.
The river motifs depict familiar locations in an abstract and artistic style: the Limmat in Zurich with a hint of the city skyline, the course of the Aare near Bern, and the “Knee of the Rhine” in Basel. These are complemented by summery food motifs such as iced matcha lattes, ice cream on a stick, and lemons. Two additional designs feature aquatic animals: an octopus and a whale.
Bright colors and graphic designs
The towels are deliberately designed to be colorful. Bright colors, bold contrasts, and large patterns make each bath towel a little statement piece by the water. Whether on a wooden deck chair, by the riverbank, at the outdoor pool, or on the beach: the designs stand out without being garish—they’re graphic, playful, and summery.
For everyone who loves design and summer
This collection is for anyone looking for a special beach towel: lightweight, soft, practical, and designed with an eye for detail. A beach towel for people who love to go swimming, appreciate beautiful colors, and value good design.
Whether as a gift, a new favorite beach towel, or a companion for a beach vacation—these illustrated muslin beach towels bring a summery vibe wherever you go.
