Paper towels differ, with some brands being stronger, thicker, and using recycled paper, while others tout their innovative perforation options. The overall concept — a quick, clean, disposable towel that’s always at the ready — spans brands and price ranges. Of course, there’s one easy way to tell paper towels apart: the pattern that’s embossed on the paper. Why do paper towels have these patterns? They’re pretty, and if you keep your paper towels on the counter, picking based on aesthetics makes sense — as long as they do the job, that is. Paper towels didn’t always have patterns. Around the early 1950s, a two-ply paper towel was developed that required embossing and laminating to create a pattern on the paper towel and hold the 2-plies together, which significantly increased their water-holding capacity. Raising a pattern on the surface also makes the paper towel thicker, which contributes to a softer, squishier feel. As for the patterns, designs are created by the manufacturers. Besides wanting to stand out from other paper products, manufacturers spend a lot of time and resources figuring out which patterns work best for their particular needs. In the end, patterns are not the driving force behind people choosing a particular brand of paper towels — it’s how well they do the job.
