Johnston’s creation hangs lesser towels out to dry

Designer Ian Johnston’s name could soon be the stuff of bathroom legend, if his latest product – the Stay-up Towel – makes a splash. The technology and design expert from the Open University has already struck a deal with Johnson & Johnson to manufacture the towel, which allegedly prevents the familiar problem of ‘untucking’.

It seems that the diagonally woven fabric gives the two tying ends more grip, not to mention the fact that Johnston’s design uses an elastic seam to prevent slippage. The seam is also enshrined in water-resistant fleece towels.

Tests using prototypes of the Stay-Up Towel showed it remained firmly in place in nine out of ten typical bathroom scenarios, including teeth-cleaning, hair brushing and putting on deodorant.

Johnston clearly has the skills for the job. ‘I specialise in the imaginative application of engineering to everyday problems, so it was an exciting design challenge for me,’ he explains. ‘The final prototype not only performs well but, importantly, it looks and makes you feel good, too.’

Johnson & Johnson says it will assess the results of tests on the towel before deciding whether to put it on the market.