PURPOSE: To obtain a highly oil retaining collagen composite fabric excellent in oil retaining properties by fixing methyl esterified collagen staple fibers in the one-side pile cotton thick towel fabric.

CONSTITUTION: A raw material split leather is treated with an alkali such as calcium hydroxide and then formed into staple fibers, which are subsequently methyl esterified in a hydrochloric acid-acidified methanol and then treated with glutaraldehyde to provide aldehyde-treated methyl esterified collagen staple fibers. The resultant methyl esterified collagen staple fibers in an amount of 17-25 pts.wt. based on 100 pts.wt. solid content of a polyurethane elastomer in a solution of the polyurethane elastomer in dimethylformamide are blended therewith to afford a dispersion. A double-side napped towel fabric of a one-side pile cotton towel fabric is then impregnated with the dispersion, treated and squeezed so as to provide 3-38wt.% solid content of the impregnating dispersion based on the product basis weight. The obtained collagen staple fiber composite is subsequently fixed and the puffing treatment of the pile surface of the towel fabric is carried out to partially expose the collagen staple fibers.