TwoTowel

The TwoTowel is a 'new' product for the kitchen where two functions, normally used side by side, come together in one product.

When you hang the TwoTowel in the middle, there is one side that can be used as a towel, while the other side serves as a tea towel!

Particularly special about the TwoTowel is its production process where two different kinds of fabrics, normally produced on two different machines, are now intertwined in one towel. As a result; the colours and functions literally flow into one another through a carefully designed gradient in colour and fabric.

Looking for larger quantities or to use this product in a project? Ask for a free quotation here. On our download page, you can find 3d models, high-res images, and other product information.

Variations

the Vij5
steps
of the
TwoTowel

Transparency of the production chain comes naturally to us.

For us, that doesn't just mean giving information about where something has been produced. Our chain starts much earlier: with the designer of the product!

We'll tell you the whole story. Click on the buttons to discover the different steps:

The TwoTowel was designed by Anieke Branderhorst. In addition to being a designer, she is also one of the founders of Vij5.

In a Dutch kitchen, a tea towel and a towel often hang next to each other and form a kind of inseparable duo. This inspired Anieke to combine these two functions in one towel.

Anieke Branderhorst

"I wanted the two fabrics to be literally intertwined. This was an important starting point in my design process. That's why I designed a pattern where the different types of fabrics alternate with each other and grow more and more towards each other."

Anieke Branderhorst

The TwoTowel has been part of the Vij5 collection since 2014. This collection was originally created because we wanted to be able to market our own designs. Because we enjoy it too much to be involved in the realization of ideas from other designers in addition to designing new products ourselves, there is, of course, less and less time left for our own ideas..

But the idea of the TwoTowel was so powerful in its simplicity that we knew immediately that this product had to become part of the Vij5 collection. We didn't hesitate for a moment and started translating the idea into a producible product.

Why the TwoTowel is not produced in the Netherlands

During our search for a suitable manufacturer for this product, it turned out that this "simple" idea was not so easy to implement. Several factories in our region told us that this product was impossible (for them) to make. This only made us more motivated and convinced that we had an extraordinary design on our hands! At least something that was not made as standard in existing manufacturing processes. We had to look for a manufacturer who really wanted to experiment with us.

We therefore decided to develop the design technically in collaboration with textile designer Jolijn Fiddelaers. She too became fascinated by the unusual construction of this product. Finally, we found a manufacturer in Turkey who dared to experiment with us on the basis of our technical drawings.

Why is it difficult to make the TwoTowel?

Particularly special about the TwoTowel is its production process where two different kinds of fabrics, normally produced on two different machines, are now intertwined in one towel. This means that a machine that normally makes flat fabrics suddenly has to create loops, or a machine that normally makes loops (towels) suddenly also has to make a flat fabric. We have chosen the last option and developed a flat fabric for the looping machine. This is also the reason why the tea towel part is a bit thicker than you might expect from a tea towel.

The TwoTowel became a reality in 2014 because it was produced for the first time for Vij5. The producer who dared to experiment with us was located in the Denizli region, known as the textile region of Turkey. (Read here why the TwoTowel is not made in the Netherlands). In 2014 Anieke and Jolijn visited the factory in Turkey and made good use of the valuable knowledge and expertise of the producer to prepare the TwoTowel production. Because we made good contacts back then, we were able to arrange everything remotely for the second production run in 2019.

In the material passport you can find where and by whom the different parts of this product are made.

This is how the TwoTowel is made:

The photos and video show how the TwoTowels are made and come off the loom: a large cloth with several TwoTowels next to each other, which is then cut into pieces and finished into a final product.

We have chosen to make the warp of the loom in one color. This automatically becomes the color of the loops in the TwoTowel, the 'towel' part. The 'tea towel' part is determined by the color of the weft. For this we can choose different colors, resulting in different TwoTowels.

As icing on the cake, the new TwoTowel is made of organic cotton.

"A production in organic cotton has been a wish of ours for a long time and we are therefore really happy with this development, which we have been able to realize thanks to our successful crowdfunding campaign, together with our crowdfunders".

Arjan & Anieke

Crowdfunding campaign

In October 2018, we organized a crowdfunding campaign to produce a new version of the TwoTowel (see also www.voordekunst.nl/TwoTowel).

Donors here directly influenced the color of the final result by choosing a specific color combination in return. The colors mustard yellow-warm gray and mint green-warm gray were the most popular and were actually put into production. In addition, we also developed a neutral version that partly uses undyed yarn.

Would you like to see this product in real life ?

Come to our showroom in Eindhoven or visit one of our ambassadors or other points of sale.

In need of larger numbers or application in a project?

Please contact Arjan and request a quotation here.

Vij5 webshop

All Vij5 products can of course also be ordered directly from our own webshop:

Vij5
Showroom

You can visit our studio and workshop to see, feel, and experience our products in person! We operate from a distinctive industrial building on the Hallenweg in Eindhoven. Most of our products are on display here, but currently, the showroom is being used for another major project. So, please get in touch and let us know what you'd like to see, and we'll make it work!

You can make an appointment for this by mail or phone.

Exact location on Google Maps 

Ambassadors

A Vij5 Ambassador is, just like us, a big fan of the Vij5 collection. It is not just a point of sale, but a shop that knows just a little bit more about our products. There is always someone present as a point of contact who can tell you everything about the Vij5 collection!

Vij5 Ambassadors are specialists in e.g. our lighting, furniture and/or accessories and will gladly provide you with advice. There is a nice selection of products from our collection in the shop. When an item is not in stock in the store an Ambassador can always order it for you.

Points of sale