Our story · From Turkey to Santa Barbara
Woven in Turkey, loved on the coast
Every Riviera towel begins with a mill and a village workshop in Turkey, and ends up on a beach near you.
Why we go to Turkey
It started with a towel on a European beach
In 2014, Albert and Shannon DiPadova kept seeing the same thing on beaches across Europe: locals carrying thin, soft, brightly colored towels instead of bulky terry. They were Turkish peshtemals. After a lot of research and several trips to Turkey, the two brought the idea home to Santa Barbara and started The Riviera Towel Company.
- Founded in Santa Barbara in 2014
- Long-staple Turkish cotton
- We visit the mills and workshops ourselves
Meet the makers
The hands behind every fringe
Our towels are made by people who know this craft by heart. Family-run mills weave the cloth on jacquard looms, turning cones of cotton yarn into stripes, diamonds and chevrons. Then artisans in small workshops twist and knot each fringe by hand, using traditional methods that give every towel its finish.
- Woven on jacquard looms
- Fringe twisted and knotted by hand
- Traditional methods, made to last
From loom to Santa Barbara
How a Riviera towel comes to life
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Designed
We pick every colorway right here in Santa Barbara, from the bougainvillea on the Riviera to the deep blue of the Channel.
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Spun
It all starts with long-staple Turkish cotton yarn, soft, strong and absorbent.
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Woven
Mills weave the flat-woven cloth on jacquard looms, which keeps it light and quick to dry.
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Finished by hand
Artisans twist and knot the fringe, one towel at a time.
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Home to the coast
Your towel ships from Santa Barbara, ready for the beach, the bath or the road.
Why Turkish cotton
Lighter than terry, softer every wash
A Turkish towel, or peshtemal, is flat-woven instead of looped like terry, so it dries fast, packs small and still soaks up water. It gets softer with every wash, and it works as a beach towel, a wrap, a scarf or a throw.
- Dries in a fraction of the time
- Packs flat for travel
- Gets softer with every wash
Scenes from our trips
Inside the mills and workshops
Our visits to Turkey: the looms, the yarn, the villages and the people who make our towels. Tap any photo to see it larger.
Visit us
Come say hello on Gutierrez Street
Our Santa Barbara shop is where it all comes together: stacks of Turkish towels in every color, cozy throws, local art and little gifts you won't find anywhere else.
- 17 W. Gutierrez St., downtown Santa Barbara
- Feel every towel, throw and robe in person
- Hometown gifts from local makers
- Questions? Call us at 805-560-1571
Our mission
$76,439.30
donated to heal and protect our oceans
Every year, 5% of our net profits go to organizations restoring reefs, cleaning beaches and protecting marine life, here at home and around the world.
Riviera Originals
Bring a little Turkey home
Our own towels, woven and finished by the makers you just met.
Essential Turkish Towel$ 29.98
42 colors
Diamond Turkish Towel$ 34.98
25 colors
Amalfi Coast Turkish Towelfrom $ 28.98
11 colors
Biarritz Turkish Towelfrom $ 28.98
26 colors
LOVE from Santa Barbara Beach Towels$ 48.98
6 colors
Santa Barbara Embroidered Towel$ 36.98
12 colors
Sardine Turkish Towel$ 46.98
4 colors
Capri Turkish Towel (White Base)$ 29.98
26 colors