Do you know the Japanese technique of wrapping things called furoshiki? This name refers to the Japanese technique of wrapping, or simply refers to a square of fabric used to pack various items.
Its name Furoshiki [風呂敷] can be literally translated as “furo” (bath) and “shiki” (to open). In this article, we will learn all the details of this square of cloth and its numerous uses.
Traditionally, furoshiki is used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods. It has been used in countless ways for over a thousand years. Wrapping techniques can be used with smaller fabrics and even napkins.
There is no fixed size for furoshiki; they can vary from the size of a hand to larger than sheets. The large one is about 2 meters, and the basic one usually measures between 34 and 37 centimeters.
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Picnic among the flowers
Following the cherry blossom trail, in April, in a village called Shirakawago, I encountered the charming Furoshiki for the first time. It is a square of cloth in which people wrap everything: gifts, boxes, bottles, books, obentos (lunch boxes), and more.
In addition to all the artistic detail that makes a difference in the wrapping, it can be transformed into a canteen, a handbag, or a shoulder bag. A small, neatly rolled furoshiki can imitate a flower, decorating a little gift.
Gifts are wrapped in beautiful floral fabrics, preferably in silk. For family use, a simpler fabric will do. When wrapping a gift with furoshiki, you are giving 2 gifts at the same time.
The Japanese take care in using elaborate fabrics with patterns suitable for each season of the year. In spring, for example, flowers and baby animals are the favorites. The colors refer to the holiday or events of the season.
Things to do with furoshiki cloths
The art of wrapping cloths and fabrics in Japan allows for countless possibilities. Furoshiki is often decorated with traditional designs or by shibori (dyeing technique).
With furoshiki, it is possible to make a ring bag, bottles, a bag for books, fruit baskets, a bag for objects, wrap gifts, make a summer bag, create a vase holder, make a lunch box, wrap gifts with a bow, and much more.
See below various techniques being applied to a furoshiki:
THE HISTORY AND ORIGIN OF FUROSHIKI
Furoshiki originated in the Nara period (710 – 784) to transport the Emperor’s goods. Later, in the Heian period (794 – 1185), the nobility widely used this resource to store clothes. In bathhouses or onsen, this was the way used to separate everyone’s belongings.
In the 20th century, furoshiki declined due to the popularity of artificial packaging and plastic. However, in 2006, the Japanese Minister of the Environment, Yuriko Koike, launched a campaign to promote the use of fabric origami, another nickname for furoshiki. The reason is simple – its use is eco-friendly, in addition to preventing waste of plastic bags.
Any tablecloth, napkin, or small printed piece of fabric, even a beach sarong, can easily be transformed into a bag or wrap a gift in a special way using this traditional fabric folding technique.
The invitation is extended to the reader to explore the ways, from the simplest to the most elegant, to tie the furoshiki. This is an artistic, elegant, original, and friendly way to carry and store things.
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