Many fabrics are treated with resins, I hate if I happen to buy towels and they just don't dry the water off, grrrrrrr!!
I never use fabric softener in towels so that isn't why they aren't absorbing as well as they should.
Ever smell a fishy odor on new fabrics? It's formaldehyde and sometimes insecticides too, they use for shipping to prevent mildew and cloth eating buggies.
I wash everything before I wear it when new.
Now, raingear, I'd love to have some that really "repels" water, I've found that quality wears away fast.
It is funny to see "hydrophobic" labeled on clothes. LOL!!