Japanese Kimono Gift Wrapping Papers: 18 x 24 inch (45 x 61 cm) Wrapping Paper

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Furoshiki , translating to "bath spread", is a style of Japanese gift wrapping that originated from necessity. In the Edo period, furoshiki wrapping was used to protect important goods in the home or during transport. Gift giving in Japan has a lot of significance, from celebrating birthday milestones to house-warming presents. Furoshiki wrapping is another meaningful way to deliver a present to your loved ones. This is one of the most beautiful Japanese gift-wrapping techniques that's still in use and one that you can incorporate for the holidays as an eco-friendly option. While furoshiki might not be as prominent in everyday use as they once were, they remain deeply ingrained in Japanese culture as a symbol of traditional textiles that continue to serve practical purposes in contemporary Japanese households. One of the most prevalent applications of furoshiki is within the art of bento making. It’s quite common to encounter shops promoting furoshiki alongside bento boxes and accessories. These versatile cloths excel not only in securely wrapping bento contents to prevent spills but also in functioning as convenient placements during meals. To start furoshiki gift wrapping, first choose a cloth with a diagonal length about three times the length of the gift. It needn’t be exact. This Japanese wrapping proportion technique gives you just enough cloth to cover the gift without much extra flop on the sides.

Furoshiki and bojagi cloths were made with care, often hand-embroidered or quilted with symbolic designs or knots, like a Japanese family’s crest in Japan, or a Korean ceremonial marriage knot. The Korean textile artist and bojagi teacher Youngmin Lee explained that patchwork bojagi would sometimes be made from the scrap fabric from ceremonial dresses and suits—called hanbok—which, unlike kimono, used curved lines in their designs.

Furoshiki serves as a versatile medium for personal expression. It’s not uncommon for people to use these fabric wraps as a canvas to display their favorite characters, brands, colors, and hobbies. The intricate designs often reflect personal interests, be it a beloved character from Japanese pop culture, a preferred color scheme or design, or even a favorite sports team logo. Furoshiki’s most common application, bento wrapping, offers a subtle yet creative way to infuse daily life with personal style. It’s a way to carry a bit of your uniqueness wherever you go, a style and understated form of self-expression. Also used for square objects, this method helps create the perfect gift. It's also known as the hidden knot technique. Caring for your furoshiki is generally straightforward, but it’s essential to adapt your approach to the textile it’s made from. Cotton furoshiki is the easiest to maintain; you can simply toss them into the washing machine and hang them dry for the best results. For more vibrant designs, like this Seasons Furoshiki designed by Keisuke Seizawa (1895-1984), a renowned Japanese textile designer, it’s advisable to wash them separately from contrasting colors and avoid using a tumble dryer. This will help preserve the vivid design of the furoshiki and protect it from wear and tear.

The most sustainable (and cheapest) way to wrap furoshiki style is reusing old fabrics. Thrifted vintage silk or polyester scarves work exceptionally well. Traditional furoshiki Besides being used as a gift box, many people use furoshiki to carry everyday items. Depending on how you fold the fabric, you can use furoshiki to make a handbag. You can also use it to carry and protect fragile goods, like a glass vase. Wall Décor In Japan, you can get gifts wrapped with ornate detail at a Japanese department store . But you can also achieve this look at home with furoshiki wrapping . It’s important to note that this Japanese wrapping cloth (furoshiki) comes precut in various sizes. Here's how you can recreate this Japanese gift-wrapping style at home for different items. What Materials Do You Need?Today, the fashion industry is one of the worst polluters, after the oil industry. Since learning about the many traditional uses of cloth wrapping, I’ve noticed other times when I can use cloth instead of plastic, which will end up in a landfill, in oceans, and in animals like us. Like yuzen dyeing, it’s a technique that allows for the use of multiple separate colours on the same cloth. This produces intricate patterns or scenes that appear to be hand-painted. Zero-waste cloth wrapping today