Tenugui hand towels, used in Japan since the Heian period (794-c.1190), saw the colorful patterns and designs starting in the Edo period (1603-1867). Later, during the Meiji period as dying techniques developed, new ideas about how to approach designing them began to coalesce. Today, tenugui hand towels are not just used as everyday items; their colorful designs have secured their place as facets of interior decoration, gifts, or simply a stylish accessory.