Original FUROSHIKI Wrapping Cloth From Japan Gift Wrap Scarf Bag Eco Reusable.
Square of 105 cm
What is a Furoshiki?
Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese wrapping cloth.
It is a single square piece of fabric with a multitude of uses: gift wrapping, transporting items, fashion (as a scarf, shawl or belt) and home decor. Some accessories can be used to hang them on a wall or to tie them as bags.
It also has various roles: to wrap, carry. Protect and keep.
The functionality is versatile according to the occasion for which it is used, as well as the shape and size of the objects it covers. It reflects the Japanese sensibility, since ancient times, of accepting nature as it is.
History of Furoshiki: (Ref Furoshiki book by Tomoko Kakita)
Nara Period 710 - 794
Furoshiki was a precious linen cloth used to wrap and protect all treasures in temples. The cloth was called “Tsutsumi” during that period, meaning “package” or “present”.
Heian Period 794 - 1185
At that time the cloth was called “Kokomo Tsutsumi” for “clothes” “package”.
One of the old scrolls from this period shows court ladies respectfully carrying noblemen’s clothes wrapped in these cloths.
Kamakura Period 1185 - 1333
During that period, the name changed to “Hiratsutsumi”. The cloth was still used for wrapping the clothes of noble families and feudal lords. “Origata” was born in this period and was established as an official courtesy for only high-ranking Samurai class families and recorded the methods in their secret books. Origata is a generic name for the formal way of wrapping gifts with decorative folded Japanese paper for ritual use.
Muromachi Period 1336 - 1573
This period saw the first piece of cloth being used for Furoshiki. The story goes that Ashikaga Shogun Yoshimitsu invited lords to a steam bathhouse to entertain them. The bathers wrapped their clothes in a Furoshiki with their family crest marked on it to prevent their belongings from being confused. Then they would change while standing on their Furoshiki (hence the meaning of “Furo” and “Shiki”, “Bath” “Spread”).
The noble families used a silk cloth for their rituals; in contrast, high ranking Samurai used paper.
Edo Period 1603 - 1868
As commercial trades started to flourish in Japan, traders wrapped their products for transportation. The travellers used Furoshiki for wrapping their belongings. Furoshiki became a necessity for people’s everyday lives.
Furoshiki has become increasingly popular with cultures around the world as it has transformed the art of gift-giving.
Why considering using Furoshiki?
Eco-Friendly
Furoshiki itself is reusable and a sustainable alternative to traditional wrapping paper.
Keep in mind that plastic-coated gift bags and boxes will most likely end up in the landfill.
Let’s start to wrap gifts in a more environmentally friendly way!
Versatile
No matter the shape of your item, a Furoshiki, if it is big and wide enough, will always wrap any shape, regular or not, of any item you have to wrap and in a lovely way.
Convenient and Economical
If you have a good stock of sizes and fabrics of Furoshiki, you will always have a good use of them when needed. If it is either to wrap, transport, cover or protect anything. Forget about buying wrapping paper, bubble wrap or sticky tape.
Furoshiki is washable (low temperature on delicate program) and of course reusable.
And in Japan, it is transitional for the Furoshiki to be returned to the giver. It is up to you whether you choose to keep the wrapping cloth or include it as part of your gift.
You can put a note when you offer it like “Please adopt the Japanese Tradition of returning this wrap to the giver, with Thanks”.
Personalised
Furoshiki can be decorated using natural ornaments such as flowers, pine cones, branches, all kinds of different accessories, keyrings, craft items, to make it more pretty, more personal, special and unique. This is a very stylish way of offering, get creative!
What are the types of fabrics for Furoshiki?
Standard Furoshiki cloth is made of shantung fabric. The cloth is printed using the traditional kata-yuzen (patterned guzen) technique.
There are lots of different type of fabric used for making a Furoshiki.
The most common and natural fabrics are cotton, bamboo, hemp, linen and silk.
The silk is used for luxurious presents but can also be used as a shawl.
There is also rayon, nylon, polyester and viscose. But those are not the most eco-friendly ones if we want to treat our planet with care and kindness.
All original Furoshiki edges are stitched to prevent fraying. Then they can be washed and last forever.
How to wrap a Furoshiki?
There are lots of way to fold a Furoshiki, here are a few of them:
The Furoshiki is a perfectly engineered piece of Japanese design. Sure, to the lazy eye it’s a sheet of fabric, but it’s far more than that.
It’s an art, a craft, a useful everyday object and a piece of Traditional Japanese History.
Haven’t started yet?
Start now to make a difference to this world, stop adding more waste to our planet and embrace the Furoshiki culture and bring more joy when offering!