A woven terry fabric comprising: a body including a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second ends are opposite one another, a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the first and second side edges are opposite one another and generally perpendicular to the first and second opposite ends, a plurality of zones extending across the fabric between one of the first and second opposite ends or the first and second opposite edges, wherein the plurality of zones includes a first zone adjacent one of the first end or first edge and a second zone adjacent the opposite second end or second edge, a central zone intermediate to the first zone and the second zone, a first plurality of intermediate zones (42, 44, 46) between the first zone and the central zone, and a second plurality of intermediate zones (42', 44', 46') between the second zone and the central zone, characterized in that each zone of the plurality of zones has a pile with a pile height that differs from the pile height in adjacent zones and the pile height in each zone of the first plurality of intermediate zones is greater than the pile height in the first zone and less than the pile height in the central zone, and the pile height in each zone of the second plurality of intermediate zones is greater than the pile height in the second zone and less than the pile height in the central zone, and the difference in pile height between adjacent zones is in a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm and the central zone has a pile height that is not less than 110% of the pile height in each of the first and second zones and is not more than 300% of the pile height in each of the first and the second zones. a body including a first end and a second end, wherein the first and second ends are opposite one another, a first side edge and a second side edge, wherein the first and second side edges are opposite one another and generally perpendicular to the first and second opposite ends, a plurality of zones extending across the fabric between one of the first and second opposite ends or the first and second opposite edges, wherein the plurality of zones includes a first zone adjacent one of the first end or first edge and a second zone adjacent the opposite second end or second edge, a central zone intermediate to the first zone and the second zone, a first plurality of intermediate zones (42, 44, 46) between the first zone and the central zone, and a second plurality of intermediate zones (42', 44', 46') between the second zone and the central zone, characterized in that each zone of the plurality of zones has a pile with a pile height that differs from the pile height in adjacent zones and the pile height in each zone of the first plurality of intermediate zones is greater than the pile height in the first zone and less than the pile height in the central zone, and the pile height in each zone of the second plurality of intermediate zones is greater than the pile height in the second zone and less than the pile height in the central zone, and the difference in pile height between adjacent zones is in a range between 0.1 mm and 2 mm and the central zone has a pile height that is not less than 110% of the pile height in each of the first and second zones and is not more than 300% of the pile height in each of the first and the second zones.