Wimbledon towels are made in India: How a Vapi-based factory crafts the iconic towels used by tennis stars like Carlos Alcaraz and Novak Djokovic every year

When it comes to Wimbledon, everybody notices the star players like Novak Djokovic, Noami Osaka, etc but a lot of people also notice the towel which is being used.

These official towels, used by players throughout the tournament, have become one of the Championships' most iconic accessories. Far from ordinary, they've turned into cherished mementos, many players choose to keep them as souvenirs once their matches are done. And there's a surprising twist: these Wimbledon towels actually have ties to India.

The Indian thread behind Wimbledon's towels

Christy, the upscale home textiles brand, has been making the Championships' official towels since 1987. Manufacturing originally took place in Britain, but that changed after an Indian textile giant bought the company more than 15 years ago and progressively shifted production to its facility in Vapi, Gujarat.

Behind the scenes: precision, planning, and colour codes

Making these towels is far from a simple task, it's a carefully choreographed design process. Planning begins a full 18 months ahead of the tournament, with the team factoring in the season's emerging design and colour trends. Each towel takes a week to produce, blending design work and manufacturing in tandem.

Even the colours follow a deliberate logic. Men's towels stick to Wimbledon's classic club palette of dark green, purple, and gold, year after year. Women's towels, on the other hand, get a fresh colour scheme annually, for 2026, it's red and white.

Built for performance, designed for everyday life

Made with Christy's signature short-loop terry weave, they're notably soft, absorbent, and dry quickly. Premium cotton yarn gives them their durability, so they hold onto their plush texture wash after wash. And their appeal isn't limited to the tennis court, they work just as well at the beach, poolside, or as part of a bathroom routine.