Wimbledon towels produced in Gujarat, India become coveted player souvenirs

Wimbledon’s official green-and-purple towels are now manufactured in Vapi, Gujarat, after Indian textile group Welspun acquired the British luxury brand Christy. The shift from the UK to India began more than 15 years ago and the towels are woven from premium cotton using Christy’s short‑loop terry technique, taking about a week to complete.

Players receive a towel for each match but most do not return them; roughly 15% are turned back while around 2,500 towels go missing each tournament. Stars such as Iga Świątek and Novak Djokovic have joked about taking them home for friends and family. The current collection includes the traditional green base with purple stripes and a strawberry‑coloured edition inspired by Wimbledon’s famous strawberries‑and‑cream.

Christy also repurposes surplus towels into lifestyle items like tote bags and robes, which sell out quickly. The towels are available for purchase online for about £40 (≈ Rs 5,100).