| The term Furoshiki is becoming widely recognized | | | | cloths or decoration for glass vases. |
| all over the world as a beautiful eco alternative | | | | Furoshiki may seem like simple pieces of fabric, |
| for shopping bags, wrapping materials, and more. | | | | but with the wide range of sizes, colours, styles |
| Furoshiki are traditional japanese cloths made of | | | | and fabrics, it can be used daily. With sizes that |
| cotton, rayon, nylon or silk. | | | | can range from 40cm squared to 3m squared or |
| They normally have traditional japanese patterns | | | | more, it's simple to wrap up or carry any item |
| like japanese family crests or traditional kimono | | | | imaginable. |
| patterns, and offer a wide range of colours. | | | | |
| There are many places throughout Kyoto that still | | | | The method to securing and creating the different |
| colour and decorate furoshiki using ancient | | | | furoshiki bags or wraps is by using a simple series |
| traditional methods of fabric dyeing and even | | | | of knots. For example, begin by taking two |
| adding details by hand. | | | | opposing corners and tying them with a simple |
| This versatile cloth was used hundreds of years | | | | knot over an item (as a gift or just to carryand |
| ago in Japan for a variety of things, just as it can | | | | item), then taking the other two corners and |
| be used for us today. Originally, it was a large | | | | tying them in the same manner. This is the |
| sheet to wrap and store clothing when visiting a | | | | simplest way to wrap gifts and creates a solid |
| bath house, but later became more popular with | | | | handle of knots to grab on to. |
| other uses such as, wrapping and decorating gifts | | | | There are other knot tying steps for furoshiki to |
| and as a way to facilitate carrying awkward or | | | | customize shopping bags with long or short |
| delicate items. | | | | handles, or very simply, add bamboo rings for a |
| Today, Japanese furoshiki are easily tied (using a | | | | more decorative handle (secured with furoshiki |
| series of knots) to create shopping bags, | | | | knots). |
| handbags, backpacks, gift wrap for any item, and | | | | Some of the clothing items that can be tied are |
| even skirts, summer tops, shawls and more. | | | | bolero, head sashes, summer tops, or wrap a |
| There are many who collect furoshiki for their | | | | variety of gifts like flowers, bottles (champagne, |
| homes as hanging decorations, throws, table | | | | wine...), gift boxes, even picnic baskets and more. |