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A storm of speed on the green grass court. The whole world is enchanted by the swing of the racket and the magic of the tennis ball. But if you look at the gallery of Wimbledon, you will not only see six of the tennis talents, but also another luxurious accessory. That’s the colorful towels on the players’ hands. Beyond the confines of the court sweatshop which has now become a symbol of aristocracy. And India is involved in the weaving of this royal towel.

How is this towel made?

Surprising as it may sound, this viral Wimbledon towel has its roots in Gujarat’s Vapi. Since 1987, British brand ‘Christie’ has been producing the official towel of the competition. However, fifteen years ago, one of the most famous companies in the Indian textile industry, ‘Welspun’, bought this brand. Since then its production started in India. Every year, Wimbledon starts about a year and a half before the start of its design. It takes about seven days to make a towel perfectly.

What is new this time?

This time along with the traditional green and purple colors comes a special ‘strawberry’ colored towel. This touch of color pays homage to the tournament’s famous dish ‘strawberries and cream’. Crafted from premium cotton yarn, this towel is so soft and absorbent that no star could fall in love with it. According to the rules, towels should be returned after the match. But the vast majority of players don’t. Only 15 percent of towels are returned. The rest takes refuge in the players’ kit bags.

The whole world in love with towels!

Poland’s Iga Shiatek takes these towels home every time he fills his bag. Fans also fondly call him the ‘Towel Thief of Wimbledon’. Novak Djokovic also once joked that he also took towels home to give to friends as gifts. About 2,500 towels disappear from the field every year. These surplus towels are now used by Christie to create luxury tote bags and clothing. The price of which is around five thousand rupees in Indian currency.

However, India’s love affair with Wimbledon does not end here. Recently, the official Instagram page of Wimbledon shared a shot of Roger Federer to the tune of ‘Pahela Nesha’. Devine’s ‘Bajigar’ played in the background of Djokovic’s court-shaking moment. Not just songs, Wimbledon has teamed up with Delhi’s century-old ‘Kuremal Kulfi’ to create a special Strawberry Kulfi. This combination of Sahebi temperament and Indian taste has ushered in a new era in the sports arena.