CONTRIBUTED BY KANDY
I love this time of year. Gathering around friends and family to eat, drink and exchange gifts! I always feel a little sad to see a garbage can full of once beautiful, now crumpled gift wrap. Why not save space, money and the landfills by using a furoshiki. ふろしき
Wikipedia's definition of Furoshiki (風呂敷, furoshiki) are a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that were frequently used to transport clothes, gifts, or other goods... Modern furoshiki can be made of a variety of cloths, including silk chirimen, cotton, rayon, and nylon.
Another furoshiki video in one of Kyoto's famous Furoshiki stores.
A furoshiki cloth can be any size to wrap the contents properly, however, the most common sizes are 45cm (17.7 inch) and 68-72cm (26.7-28.3 inch). You can cut and hem your own fabrics or buy the more common sizes at department stores such as Jusco, San-A the ETWS store. Below is a handy chart from the Japanese Ministry of the Environment, to get you started. I think I've found a new hobby that is actually good for the environment. There are instructional books on it as well. Before you know it, you'll be a furoshiki superstar!
I also have seen furoshiki used to wrap up bento boxes that make it so pretty…also makes a good placemat in turn!
This is AWESOME since I NEVER have wrapping paper, or the right sized bag or even any tape or paper I can get a hold of!!! But a stack of scarves would be easy to keep around…
This is awesome. The ladies in my culture group always bring their potluck items in furoshiki and it is great to know I can pick some up for myself at the local stores…I’ll have to get some and maybe one or two charts so I can send them as gifts to my environmental friends….what a great alternative to wrapping paper and to plastic bags.