Furoshiki eco-friendly gift wrapping

Do you want to wrap gifts for your loved ones in an original, elegant and above all sustainably? 

Try something different this year with the smart Furoshiki technique that anyone can master! Furoshiki is a traditional Japanese eco-friendly gift wrapping technique that is becoming increasingly popular around the world. It doesn't use paper or tape, but a square piece of fabric into which the gift is wrapped like a bundle. Gifts are beautifully and ecologically wrapped. The Furoshiki fabric is itself an extra gift that doesn't have to end up in the trash! The recipient can further use it, for example as a picnic tablecloth, a snack bag, a bundle for essentials, or pass it on and wrap a gift for someone else in it.  

How to wrap gifts using the Furoshiki method?

There are many ways to tie Furoshiki - from simple knots to more complex decorative knots. It's actually something like Origami, only not from paper, but from fabric and with a practical twist.

We will need a piece of fabric, preferably square-shaped, with each side being about twice as long as the dimensions of the gift itself.When wrapping a gift, the most important factors are its size and shape. We will wrap a simple box differently than a bottle or small items.

Below, we have prepared for you several of the simplest methods and tips for eco-friendly fabric gift wrapping using Furoshiki. The first one Ento Tsutsumi is perfect for wrapping long items, such as our bottles in tubes. The second Yotsu Musubi is considered the most basic Furoshiki knot, and Otsaku Tsutsumi is its alternative. The amazing thing is that it's so simple and done in just a few seconds! You can play with the knots, fold them in different ways, and decorate them with a twig, dried oranges, or cinnamon.

And how to wrap many small gifts in fabric so that we don't have to use an unnecessary extra box? I used the method Yotsu Musubi, which is mentioned above. I was done in a few seconds and the result is beautiful and representative. Well, tell me, would you be able to nicely wrap a similarly awkward gift in wrapping paper?

How did the Furoshiki method originate?

Furo = bath, Shiki = ceremony

The Furoshiki method originated in Japan during the 17th century, when people wrapped their kimonos and personal items in cloths to take to public baths. These cloths bore their family crest, making them easily recognizable and easy to carry. Over time, Furoshiki began to be used for carrying items on other occasions and gift wrapping. Various decorative knot styles emerged, and emphasis was also placed on the chosen material and its pattern.

In the mid-20th century, Furoshiki was temporarily pushed aside by plastic bags, but its strong tradition endured and now its glory is returning in connection with the ecological trend. Currently, the eco-friendly gift wrapping method Furoshiki is a beautiful and practical custom in Japan that combines practicality and aesthetic experience. In Japan, giving someone a gift without it being properly wrapped is considered impolite.