At Red Land Cotton, every product carries a story. Our tea towels are no exception. We sat down with Molly Terry, our Visual Brand Content Manager and the creative mind behind every hand-lettered design, to talk inspiration, process, and what she hopes you feel every time you pull one from the drawer.
Molly Terry, Visual Brand Content Manager
Five Years, One Pitch, and a Whole Lot of Heart
Molly has been part of the Red Land Cotton family for over five years, but her journey with the tea towels started with a simple idea and a conversation with founder Anna.
"During my first year at RLC, as the Fourth of July approached, I pitched an idea to Anna for a limited-edition holiday tea towel. The response exceeded our expectations, and what started as a simple seasonal design quickly became the beginning of something much bigger."
That one pitch turned into one of our most beloved product lines. If you've ever browsed our tea towel collection, you already know just how far they've come.
From Fabric Scraps to Customer Favorite
One of the things we're most proud of at Red Land Cotton is our commitment to reducing waste wherever we can. Our tea towels were actually born from that same intention.
"Our tea towels were originally created using the extra yardage left at the end of fabric rolls, making them a perfect blend of practicality and purpose. Over time, they've become such a customer favorite that we now dedicate fabric to tea towel production rather than relying solely on leftover material. It's a testament to how much they've grown from their humble beginnings."
What started as a practical use of excess fabric became something customers reach for again and again. That kind of organic growth is something we never take for granted.
Inspired by the South, Designed by Hand
When it comes to finding inspiration, Molly doesn't have to look far. She draws from the Southern sayings, traditions, and memories she grew up with, and the result is designs that feel deeply personal and rooted in place.
"One of my newest favorites is our Stars Fell On Tea Towel, inspired by vintage Alabama license plates. My dad has several hanging in our family garage, and my husband loves collecting them too. Designs like this feel especially meaningful because they connect personal memories with something beautiful and lasting for the home."
Every design starts with a phrase, an anchor for everything that follows. From there, Molly sketches 8 to 10 variations before she and Anna narrow down their favorites. Then comes the hand lettering, the colors, the fine details. No fonts. No tracing. Every letter drawn by hand.
"Sometimes a design that was meant to be a single tea towel grows into a set of two or three. The excitement of the creative process doesn't always stay contained, and that's the best part."
The Many Hands Behind Every Towel
What makes a Red Land Cotton tea towel truly different isn't just the design. It's everyone whose hands it passes through on the way to yours.
"Every tea towel begins as an idea and sketch before being finalized by me. From there, our talented seamstresses carefully cut and sew each piece. The tea towels are then delivered to our hometown printer in Moulton, Alabama, where the designs are brought to life before making their way back to our warehouse to be folded, packed, and prepared for their new homes.
The Seasonal Tea Towel 3-Pack, available by subscription or one-time purchase
It's a process that winds through an entire community, and it shows in the finished product. If you've been thinking about gifting one or treating yourself to a rotating set of seasonal designs, our Seasonal Tea Towel 3-Pack is a beautiful way to bring a little of that story into your kitchen all year long. It's available as a one-time purchase or as a subscription, so you never have to think twice about keeping your kitchen feeling fresh.
Limited Runs, Lasting Meaning
Every design Molly creates is truly one of a kind, and intentionally so. Most tea towel releases are limited runs, available for a season or a year before being retired to make way for something new.
"You may see a design available for three months or even a year, but eventually it will be retired to make room for fresh new designs that keep your kitchen bright and inspired."
It's a detail that makes each towel feel a little more special. Something worth hanging onto.
A Prayer for Every Kitchen
When we asked Molly what she hopes people feel when they use one of her designs, her answer stopped us in our tracks.
"My prayer for every home that has one of our tea towels is that the meals prepared in that kitchen would be blessed, the conversations around the table would be joyful, and the excitement to create would always be present. Every time you purchase a tea towel, you're supporting the hands, families, and stories behind it. Never underestimate the impact of something made with purpose and shared with love."
That's the kind of intention you can feel the moment you hold one.
What's Next
Molly is already deep into sketching the next chapter. The Christmas collection is underway, and she's been working on it for months.
"Each year, we decide whether to embrace traditional Christmas colors or have a little fun with a fresh, unexpected palette. You never quite know what we have up our sleeves, but one thing is certain: every collection is designed to feel fun, exciting, and fresh year after year."
We can't wait to show you what she's been working on.
In the meantime, explore the full tea towel collection and find the one that belongs in your kitchen.