Chronicles of humble good morning towel

Borneo Post

3 days ago

The humble Good Morning Towel.
Two GMTs: From Greenwich to Good Morning
Recently, I was in UK and found myself in Greenwich — greeted by the historic Cutty Sark and standing beside the famous line that separates the Eastern and Western Hemispheres. There it was: Greenwich Mean Time (the original GMT), a global symbol of precision and order. But as I stood at that longitude of exactitude, another 'GMT' floated into my mind — one rooted not in global clocks, but in childhood memory: the Good Morning Towel. Unlike its namesake, this GMT isn't about keeping time but wiping away the effects of it — sweat from a brow, dust from a surface. Born in China and once used by doctors, midwives, barbers and hairdressers, it journeyed with Chinese migrants to Malaysia and beyond. Over time, it settled into the lives of rickshaw pullers in Kuala Lumpur, jeepney drivers in Manila and labourers throughout Southeast Asia. To many, it's far more than a towel. It's a thread of heritage, a witness to stories etched into the shoulders that carried it. Standing in Greenwich, I felt a tug of that thread — a quiet reminder that even a strip of cloth can hold deep history. It wasn't a marvel of empire or engineering, but a faithful companion to dawns and dusks, to burdens carried and sweat wiped away.
Nostalgia sneaks in like that, doesn't it? Especially across Asia, where everyday objects whisper of simpler times. And none more so than the Good Morning Towel — as timeless and vital, in its own quiet way, as Greenwich Mean Time itself. Not measuring minutes, but marking moments of everyday resilience.
Unassuming Legacy of GMT
It began as a flicker of nostalgia, but soon I found myself diving deep into the world of the Good Morning Towel (GMT). What started as a simple memory became a weekend of unexpected discovery. The more I searched, the more I uncovered how this plain, thin piece of cotton had quietly travelled across borders and generations. Its bold 'Good Morning' greeting, stitched in red, had witnessed countless dawns, labours, and the silent endurance of everyday life. That cloth brought me back to my school days, when we wrote whimsical essays titled 'I am a Pen' or 'The Story of an Umbrella.' So, in that spirit, I set myself a new challenge: 'I am the Good Morning Towel.' Suddenly, what once seemed ordinary became a seasoned companion of history, a threadbare symbol of resilience wrapped in quiet dignity. I've seen this towel everywhere since childhood — draped over the shoulders of lorry drivers, tucked into mechanics' belts, or slung casually on kopitiam waiters. With its crisp white fabric and that iconic red greeting, it was everywhere and nowhere — part of the background of life, until you stopped to really see it. The genius of the GMT lies in its versatility. Longer than a handkerchief, lighter than a bath towel, it dries in minutes under tropical heat and folds neatly into a pocket. It can be a head wrap, a sunshade, a makeshift pouch, even a temporary seat cover. Its plainness is its strength — you can instantly tell if it's clean. Maybe it became a staple because it was the only towel available back then. Or maybe it's that cheerful, cross-cultural 'Good Morning' that makes it feel like an old friend in new hands. Most came marked with the number 96 — its most popular size at 35cm by 75cm. Its origins trace back to the late 19th century, likely made for the Hong Kong market by a Chinese factory during the height of British trade expansion. Stamped with a bilingual blessing — 'Good Morning' in English and in Chinese (安早君祝) — it offered not just utility but a warm, optimistic start to the day. Soon it became the unofficial uniform of the working class: barbers, rickshaw pullers, midwives, chefs and dockworkers all wore it with purpose. It wiped the brows of rice farmers, covered loaves in bakeries, and mopped sweat in roadside cafés. In kopitiams across Kuala Lumpur or noodle stalls from Manila to Bangkok, it fluttered from belts and shoulders like a humble banner of shared grit. My parents — and theirs before them — used it too, bound by a silent language of labour and modest pride. And yet, despite progress, the GMT never faded. Today you can buy it online for a few ringgit or find designer versions in trendy boutiques. Expats wear it as a symbol of nostalgia; chefs still rely on it for its practicality. Whatever the reinvention, its core remains unchanged: simple, useful, unpretentious.
More than just a relic, the GMT is a quiet testament to the people who build the world not with declarations, but with daily sweat. In its modest weave lies a powerful truth: history isn't only made by kings or empires, but by those who greet each morning with resolve, ready to carry on. And in that, this soft, sturdy strip of cotton gives us something rare and enduring — a hopeful greeting that still binds us all.
Fashion Spin-Off with GMT
Some people just can't resist nostalgia, and the Good Morning Towel has inspired more spin-offs than its humble threads ever bargained for. I was floored myself. It's popped up on mugs, onesies, reusable face masks, cakes and even starred in glossy photo shoots. And, thanks to fashion's flair for irony, it has now sashayed onto the runway in full haute couture glory. Enter Doublet, a Japanese menswear label that decided the GMT deserved the designer treatment. At their Fall/Winter 2020 show in Paris, the towel reappeared — this time as a knit scarf with a price tag that could make a rickshaw puller spill their teh tarik. The show, themed 'We Are the World,' was staged in a Japanese-style cafeteria, complete with an electronic menu in Japanese and Russian. One model clutched chop-sticks like a lost prop, while the GMT peeked shyly from a jacket, stealing attention from oversized outerwear and glittery pants. Then came Look #2, and the GMT went full diva — draped over the model's head like a sacred relic. Whether it was a homage to Asia's working-class heroes or a last-minute styling flourish, it was hard to miss.
That's fashion for us: give the right platform to even the humblest rag, and it might just strut into cult status. Heritage with a smirk. Nostalgia with a wink. Proof that even a sweat rag can rise to high fashion with the right flair and a very bold price tag. Whatever it was, it worked.
GMT goes haute couture for Singapore's National Day (Source: Jayden Tan)
I also found out that there were striking images with GMT by photographer Jayden Tan with model Ellie Tan. They were part of a tongue-in-cheek portrait series created to commemorate Singapore's National Day 2016.
By elevating the humble GMT which was an everyday icon into a statement headpiece, the photographer captures the essence of heritage and humour in a few frames. They are witty, nostalgic nod to the country's shared stories and humble roots.
GMT: Humble Hero of Everyday Chic
In the Philippines, trends may have shifted for the younger generation, but the modest terry-cloth GMT is enjoying a stylish revival, reminding us all that fashion doesn't need labels, just a wink, a twist and a bit of creativity. Why limit it to sweat and grime when it can shield your hair like a vintage silk scarf? Suddenly, the GMT isn't just sun protection, it's a statement: 'I don't just block UV rays. I bring the style.' Who needs Louis Vuitton or Prada when you can swing a GMT tote from your shoulder, with that bold red 'Good Morning' and crisp blue trim rivalling any luxury monogram? Prefer hands-free fashion? Tie it into a belt bag and strut. Even a Birkin gets an upgrade with a cheeky GMT wrap — a subtle flex that says, 'Yes, I have both irony and taste.' But the reinvention doesn't stop there. It can become a sporty armband for morning jogs or a quirky throwback as '80s leg warmers. Feeling chilly? Transform it into Victorian-style sleeves or a preppy cardigan perfect for polo-viewing — or kopitiam coffee runs. And come nightfall? The GMT can party too. Add a few shower rings and it's a bold necklace. Fold it right, add a pin, and voilà — you've got a brooch that makes your casual look cocktail-ready.
The takeaway? Never underestimate a GMT. It's more than absorbent, it's adaptable. From kopitiam to catwalk, this humble cloth proves that true style doesn't need a price tag, just imagination, heritage, and a healthy sense of humour. In a world full of trends, the GMT reminds us: the best fashion statement may just be a cheerful 'Good Morning.'
GMT used to protect hair, tote bag, belt bag, together with Birkin, armband, leg warmers, Victorian-style sleeves, cardigan, GMT necklace, brooch (Source: Thesoshalnetwork.com)
From Sweat Rag to Sweet Treat with GMT Cakes
If you thought the GMT had peaked as a fashion accessory or a photoop prop, think again. The humble piece of cloth has now graduated to its most unexpected role yet — dessert. That's right, the culinary scene has embraced this icon of the streets and spun it into a decadent roll cake. Dubbed the 'True Towel Cake' in Hong Kong, this whimsical confection is an edible homage to the classic design we all know and love—right down to the bold red Chinese characters and crisp blue borders. Crafted from creamy white chocolate, it measures roughly 11cm long and 8cm in diameter, making it the perfect bitesized homage for diehard fans of the towel.
But before you race out to claim one for yourself, a word of warning: this nostalgic treat was available only in Hong Kong. And it doesn't come easy. It's very expensive and can only be had by those who are patient enough to order at least two days in advance.
Hong Kong True Good Morning Towel Cake
For those hoping to pick one up on their next trip to the Fragrant Harbour, this is one souvenir worth planning for. After all, if a humble towel can be reimagined as a luxury scarf and now as a creamfilled dessert, one can only wonder: what's next? The GMT may have started as a workhorse, but it's clearly become a multicourse icon.
Letting Go Through Art
For Malaysian visual artist Chong Yi Lin, the Good Morning Towel is far more than a household relic — it's a canvas for remembrance, a vessel of emotion, and a thread linking life, loss, and legacy. In her Evanescent Series, exhibited in Taiwan, Chong delves into the grief that shaped her childhood memories. The GMT takes centre stage, recalling her great-grandmother's funeral — where towels were handed to mourners to wipe away tears and sweat. In its simplicity, the towel became a poignant symbol of mourning, impermanence, and the quiet hope of starting anew. Through delicate hand-stitching, Chong transforms this humble cloth into a metaphor for connection. Each thread weaves emotion into fabric, binding generations through shared sorrow and resilience. Her abstract needlework captures the fleeting nature of memory — ephemeral yet deeply felt.
In Chong's hands, the GMT is no longer just utilitarian. It becomes art — a witness to grief, a keeper of heritage, and a gentle reminder of the beauty in letting go.
Malaysian artist Chong Yi Lin weaves emotions into fabrics with GMT (Source: TheSun.my)
Final Thread of an Everyday Icon
And so, the Good Morning Towel's aka GMT humble journey — from the bustling docks of 19th-century Hong Kong to the fashion and chic catwalks, from roadside cafés to art galleries — reminds us that greatness often blooms from the ordinary. It has dried the brows of labourers and stylists alike, served as both a tool of comfort in mourning and a playful accent in haute couture, and even found its way into our sweetest indulgences. Yet through every reinvention, its essence remains unchanged: a simple strip of cotton that carries the warmth of human connection, the resilience of everyday toil and the quiet poetry of countless dawns. In every fold and fray, the GMT carries stories — of hands that wielded needles to stitch grief into art, of drivers who braved the tropical sun, of chefs and photographers who chose it as a symbol of shared heritage. It teaches us that history isn't only the realm of titans and treaties, but also the domain of those who greet each morning with grit, respect and good humour.
So here's to the Good Morning Towel: an unassuming beacon of solidarity among Asians, a testament to our common threads, and a daily reminder that no matter where we come from or where we go, we all share one hopeful greeting. Good morning, indeed.