Towels (peškir) are fundamental pieces of Serbian folk dress and home textiles, worn and used for centuries on ordinary or ceremonial occasions. Their raw material is mostly fine linen fabric or cotton, decorated with characteristic needle-painted embroidery. The floral patterns and human depictions appearing on them reflect territorial specificities. They were required at wedding and family occasions as decorations or gifts.
They served not only practical purposes but also indicated the owner's social status within Serbian communities. They were regularly included in the bride's dowry and appeared in religious life too, such as when decorating church iconostases.