We all know there are many counts of yarns, but there are only several kinds of count yarns applied in towel industry. They are 21s/2, 32s/2 and 16s/1.
As the count number rise the yarn come finer, but two yarns combine by ring together get thicker. So the 21s/2 cotton towel is thickest, the 32s/2 is finer, and the 16s/1 is the finest yarn among them.
According to the common sense, the more fine yarns the more delicate towel, then can we use 45s/1 , 60s/1 even 180s/1 yarn to weave towel? No, that is not practicable, that towel can not be use as a towel , it will be too delicate, and the towel will be too thin to use.
21s/2 usually used to weave heavy duty towel which has great durability than the others,because it's thick.
Then is the 32s/2, it is relatively finer, and so towel made of 32s/2 is relatively soft and smooth. The 32s towel's loop is shorter than the 16s towel's loop, but the towel surface is full, feel thick, but also soft, water absorption is also very good, and strong and durable. Generally recommended for use in three-star hotels or hair towel.
16s/1 is finest, according to common sense we should use short pile loops, but on contrary we has long pile loops by 16s/1, but usually with spiral shape. So towels made of 16s/1 yarn are usually luxury, soft and thirsty, but such towels' durability can not compete 32s/2 and 21s/2 theoretically, because there are yarn quality the factor should be counted in. Towels made of 16 yarns are generally relatively fluffy and soft, and the terry loops are also longer,it is generally used as five-star hotel towel.
Above we only discussed the difference between 16s/1, 32s/2 and 21s/2 as pile loops of towels. The towel base usually made of 21s/2 (warps)and 16s/1(picks/wefts) flat weave.