8 Things You Need to Know About Furoshiki
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 that came straight from Japan!
1. What is furoshiki?
It is a reusable fabric that is used to wrap or transport goods and gifts. This Japanese tradition dates back more than 1200 years. Furoshiki also refers to the technique of folding and knotting fabric, often compared to origami.
Originally, Japanese nobility used furoshiki to wrap their valuable possessions. The term "furoshiki" means "bath mat" because it was used to wrap clothes before going to the public baths.
Click here to learn more about the history of furoshiki .
2. What is the furoshiki used for?
Furoshiki enhances your gifts while promoting zero waste values thanks to its reusable nature. With the choice of colors, patterns, fabrics and folding methods, it allows you to create unique gifts. It is considered a true art in Japan.
3. What is the shape of a furoshiki?
Traditionally, furoshiki was rectangular, as it was 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 objects.
4. What are the dimensions of a furoshiki?
Furoshikis are usually between 50 and 70 cm on each side, perfect for wrapping jewelry, bentō or clothes. For larger gifts, they can be up to 100 cm or more. The rule is that the diagonal of the furoshiki should be about 3 times the size of the object to be wrapped.
At Paké, we offer three sizes of furoshikis:
- Small Paké (50 x 50 cm) : for books, jewelry, CDs, etc.
- Medium Paké (75 x 75 cm) : for clothes, bottles, boxes of chocolates, etc.
- Large Paké (100 x 100 cm) : for board games, consoles, frames, etc.
Discover our creations on our eshop .
5. What type of fabric are furoshiki made of?
The fabric should be thick enough to hide the gift well, but thin enough to be manageable. There are no hard and fast rules regarding the type of fabric: silk, linen, cotton, nylon, etc.
At Paké, we use 100% recycled fibers (cotton and polyester) to minimize the environmental impact. Our furoshikis are vegan and entirely made in France.
6. What patterns decorate a furoshiki?
Originally, furoshikis were decorated with the coats of arms of noble families. Over time, they were decorated with artistic motifs representing symbols of good luck, such as cranes or cherry blossoms. Today, modern designs are inspired by art, architecture and pop culture.
7. How to fold a furoshiki?
There are a multitude of folding and tying 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 like the basic folding, easy to do and very versatile. Explore our inspirations to discover other ideas for creative folding and knotting!
8. What are the benefits of furoshiki?
Furoshiki is reusable, zero waste, and allows you to personalize each package according to the occasion. In addition, it does not require tape or string. It is a great alternative to traditional wrapping paper, while being environmentally friendly.
