Roland-Garros and Carré Blanc, 20 years of history

Countless times it has lain there, nonchalantly, on the bench on Centre Court, sporadically covering the face of a player as they catch their breath between games. Countless times it has wiped away tears of joy or disappointment. When its time on court is over, it can be found on the beach, on a sun lounger, in a bathroom. What is it? The official Roland-Garros towel, of course! This year, this icon of the courts is celebrating its 20th birthday! To mark the occasion, we are inviting you to take a walk down memory lane with this must-have souvenir from the Parisian Grand Slam. 

The extraordinary life of a towel

It all started with a meeting between two prestigious French brands: household linen specialist Carré Blanc and Roland-Garros, France’s Grand Slam tournament. This meeting gave rise to an emblematic collaboration, where Carré Blanc’s expertise marries the chic and sporty spirit of the legendary Parisian tennis tournament. The two brands share the same passion and three core values: excellence, transmission and responsibility.

A long-term partner of the tournament and designer of the official Roland-Garros towels, Carré Blanc designs and creates exclusive towels for every edition of the tournament, to be used by the players entered in the tournament. Used on the legendary clay courts by the world’s top tennis stars since 2003, these towels have never stopped changing and are constantly being reinvented!

They have survived being stood on, thrown around, stuffed in racquet bags. They have won Roland-Garros fourteen times with Rafa, and they have witnessed the pressures, joys and miseries first-hand with the world’s elite players. This is a towel like no other! Every year since 2003, two new and exclusive towels have been specially designed for the tournament. From must-have accessory to collector’s item, the official Roland-Garros player towels are an ideal canvas for expressing the various codes of tennis and of Paris, and Carré Blanc makes expert use of this to evoke the spirit of this unique tournament! 

High-quality and long-lasting, the official Roland-Garros player towels are made from 100% GOTS-certified organic cotton and are made in a responsible textile factory. They are an integral part of a strict and exemplary traceability programme initiated by Carré Blanc. 

 Brick red, turquoise, aniseed green, bright pink, mauve, clay orange and even black, Carré Blanc has tried all colours and styles. The result is always a daring collection that toys with graphic patterns inspired by the unique identity of the French Grand Slam to make these towels stand out.

They are an eye-catching celebration of the unique heritage of this legendary tournament and its fiercely Parisian spirit. 

From 2003 to the present day, Parisian symbols have featured in their design on numerous occasions. Other symbols plucked from the stadium have also been depicted: the St Andrew’s cross, trophies, racquets, and the lines of the courts have all provided inspiration. 

Which is your favourite?

A textile celebration

If all of Carré Blanc’s heritage and all of Roland-Garros’ prestige were put together in one collection, what would it look like? A capsule called “Tie Break“, inspired by the chic and sporty character of the Parisian tournament, which includes bed linen, sets of towels and dressing gowns with a subtle and refined style. 

To mark the 20th anniversary of the collaboration between the two brands, Carré Blanc is bringing the elegance of tennis into our homes, dispersing the legend outside the stadium grounds by echoing the symbols and colours of Roland-Garros: lined patterns inspired by the architecture of the stadium’s tramlines, crisp white, navy blue  and clay orange. Both minimalist and modern, the towels and linen are made from 100% percale cotton and towelling material, subtly decorated with jacquard motifs and delicately embroidered Roland-Garros logos. With this collection, Carré Blanc aims to envelop any home in an irresistible, cosy spirit.  

The 2023 Roland-Garros player towels and the Tie Break capsule collection of bed linen and towels are available at carreblanc.com and store.rolandgarros.com as well as in the tournament’s boutiques during the tournament!