You may have heard about furoshiki on the radio, on TV, or even seen it in stores. Furoshiki is everywhere this year! It's a zero-waste alternative to gift wrapping. But what is furoshiki, really? Here's everything you need to know about this trend straight from Japan!
1. What is furoshiki?
Furoshiki is a reusable fabric used to wrap or transport goods and gifts. This Japanese tradition dates back over 1,200 years. Furoshiki also refers to the technique of folding and tying fabric, often compared to origami.
Originally, Japanese nobility used furoshiki to wrap their precious possessions. The term "furoshiki" means "bath mat," as it was used to wrap clothes before going to the public baths.
2. What is the furoshiki used for?
Furoshiki enhances your gifts while promoting zero-waste values thanks to its reusable nature. With a choice of colors, patterns, fabrics, and folding methods, it allows you to create unique gifts. It's considered a true art in Japan.
3. What is the shape of a furoshiki?
Traditionally, furoshiki were rectangular, as they were made from kimono fabrics, which were longer than they were wide. Today, most furoshiki are square, as this shape is more versatile for wrapping different types of items.
4. What are the dimensions of a furoshiki?
Furoshiki are typically 50 to 70 cm square, making them ideal for wrapping jewelry, bento boxes, or clothing. For larger gifts, they can be up to 100 cm or more. The rule of thumb is that the diagonal of the furoshiki should be about three times the size of the item to be wrapped.
At Paké, we offer three sizes of furoshiki:
- Small Paké (50 x 50 cm) : for books, jewelry, perfumes, etc.
- Medium Paké (75 x 75 cm) : for clothes, bottles, large boxes of chocolates, etc.
- Large Paké (100 x 100 cm) : for board games, consoles, frames, etc.
Discover Paké furoshiki .
5. What fabric should I use to make furoshiki?
The fabric should be thick enough to hide the gift well, but thin enough to be manageable. There are no strict rules regarding the type of fabric: silk, linen, cotton, nylon, etc.
At Paké, we use 100% recycled fibers (cotton and polyester) to minimize our environmental impact. Our furoshiki are vegan and made entirely in France.
Know the history of Paké .
6. What patterns decorate a furoshiki?
Originally, furoshiki were adorned with the coats of arms of noble families. Over time, they were decorated with artistic motifs depicting symbols of good luck, such as cranes or cherry blossoms. Today, modern designs draw inspiration from art, architecture, and pop culture.
7. How to fold a furoshiki?
There are a multitude of folding and knotting techniques. Here are some common examples:
- Otsukai Tsutsumi: " basic packaging »
- Yotsu Musubi: " 4-knot packaging »
- Katake Fukuro: " bag packaging" »
- Entou Tsutsumi: " packing long objects" »
But for the more creative, you can go further with:
- Suika Tsutsumi: "Packaging for transporting melons"
- Hira Tsutsumi: “Packaging Flat Objects”
- Tesage Bukuro: “handbag packaging”
- Kousa Tsutsumi: “Packaging fine objects”
- Hon Tsutsumi: "Packaging for 2 books"
- Futatsu Tsutsumi: “2-knot wrapping”
- Kakushi Tsutsumi: “hidden knot packaging”
- Bin Tsutsumi 1: “1 bottle packaging”
- Bin Tsutsumi 2: “2-bottle packaging”
- Sao Tsutsumi: “padded packaging”
At Paké, we particularly love basic folding, which is easy to achieve and very versatile. Explore our inspirations to discover other creative folding and knotting ideas!
8. What are the benefits of furoshiki?
Furoshiki is reusable, zero-waste, and allows you to personalize each wrapping to suit the occasion. Plus, it requires no tape or string. It's a great alternative to traditional wrapping paper, while being environmentally friendly.
