Furoshiki is an ancient Japanese gift wrapping tradition, that dates back to the 14th Century. It’s a simple yet elegant process, whereby items are carefully wrapped in beautiful pieces of cloth, or Furoshiki, to protect them from damage. It's perfect for Christmas gifting this season!
The practice of wrapping precious items in cloth was originally intended for the Imperial household, and bore a spiritual practice in its folding methods. Many Furoshiki cloths were embroidered with a family crest and used by society’s elite, such as samurai or members of the royal family. However, as time went on, Furoshiki wrapping became commonplace, used by many households to protect their goods for transportation or storage.
Today, in Japan, Furoshiki has become a popular way of presenting gifts. Not only are the fabrics beautiful, but they also add a sustainable element to gift-giving, as they can be used again and again.
This festive season, we have decided to use our Naosabi Bandanas to wrap our gifts, continuing a beautiful tradition that dates back many years. Here’s a quick guide on how to do it yourself at home.
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Place your furoshiki in a diamond shape, reverse side up, with your gift in the centre and fold the bottom corner over the gift, tucking any excess fabric underneath.
Now, bring the top corner towards you, and fold it over the gift, tucking away the fabric.
Finally, bring the two remaining sides together over the centre and tie in a neat bow.
We like to add a sprig of green for an added touch, then Furoshiki complete!
