People love parties. They bring people together for a diverse set of reasons, ranging from a baby's first birthday to an adult's birthday, especially if in their 70s or 80s, through to the opening of a new business. Celebrations at such events are taken for granted across society. On the day of the party itself, invitees normally bring a present or a cash envelope to the party, and the hosts present them with a gift in return. At that point, one of the most popular presents offered by hosts are towels. Among the many domestic brands is Songwol Towel, one of the oldest brands in Korea.


With its softness and quality weave, Songwol Towels have long been considered one of the best towels in Korea over the past 70 some odd years. In particular, their iconic "Eco-Towel" wins favors of many modern shoppers who are exposed to a variety of pollutants throughout their daily lives. Eco-Towels don't go through any artificial dying or bleaching processes. Instead, the company applies textile enzymes, allowing customers to directly enjoy cotton's unique softness and mildness. Any harmful substances that may cause skin troubles or allergies cannot be found in these towels. For that reason, they are popular among babies and adults with sensitive skin. In recognition of such efforts, Songwol Towel has received a "Good Organic" mark from the Ministry of Environment and the "Oeco-Tex100" certification, an EU environmental label, becoming the first towel brand in Korea to acquire such approval.

Songwol Towel was created nearly seven decades ago. Two young brothers, both in their 20s, were dying socks in their home in Beomcheon-dong, in Dong-gu District, Busan. It was Park Dong-su, the former president of Songwol, and his younger brother. They purchased five towel-making machines in 1949 and thus marked the official founding of the business. During those years, Korea was poor and lacked suppliers, but this daily necessity was a steady seller. They managed to build a large factory in Geoje-dong, in Busan, in 1966, a solid foundation for Songwol to become one of the largest towel brands in Korea. The company started using automatic machines for each and every process in 1986, and raised the efficiency of the remaining workers. Based on such efforts, Songwol developed ever further, establishing a factory in Ho Chi Minh City in 2009. With its headquarters relocated to Yangsan, Songwol Towel makes up more than 30 percent of the domestic market in towel sales.




Songwol Towels are sought after both by individuals and group customers who want them as gifts to celebrate some special occasion. They're available at around 190 outlets nationwide, including high-class hotels, saunas, department stores and local retailers. Finally, the company is working on reaching out to global customers, starting with its first overseas branch in Qingdao.

Please visit the website of Songwol Towels for more information:
http://eng.songwol.co.kr

By Lee Seung-ah
Photos: Jeon Han
Korea.net Staff Writers
slee27@korea.kr