You know my love for Japan, its printed fabrics, its beautiful clothes, its traditions... but do you know the furoshiki? 

These are starting to be favored in so-called "zero waste" sewing and are beginning to be seen in some specialized stores.

Furoshiki in national drache fabric - www.cestdujoly.be

Let me explain. The furoshiki technique consists of folding and tying a square of fabric to wrap and carry objects in a practical but also very aesthetic way.
Today, this technique is used to replace gift wrap and plastic bags. The furoshiki fabric square can be recycled by the person receiving the gift or reused; instead of throwing gift wrap in the trash.
It also proves very useful as an extra bag for shopping or for carrying objects (e.g., a pie for a picnic, books...).
What is nice is that once the objects are put down, you just have to fold the furoshiki back into your bag rather than carrying around an empty rigid reusable bag.

For a little history, in Japan, the furoshiki was intended for transport but especially for protecting valuable objects like kimono-type clothing.
Subsequently, this square of fabric was used to pack bath items to go to the public bath. It could also be used to dry off. While today, fewer furoshiki are seen at the public bath, there is a new resurgence for this traditional method in Japan.
Indeed, the ecological awareness of the Japanese and the Ministry of the Environment are trying to bring it back into fashion to reduce the consumption of plastic bags.
Instead of taking a plastic bag for each purchase, you could slip your furoshiki into your bag, which will become very useful for carrying your purchases.

There are many folding techniques allowing the transport of different sizes and shapes of objects.
Whether it is a square box, a sphere, a cylinder, bottles... there is an associated folding/tying technique to ensure safe transport.
Here are some examples:

Today, you can find furoshiki in silk, cotton, viscose... often decorated with traditional patterns or in shibori (characteristic blue dyeing) or chirimen (crepe woven with a raised ripple effect). However, they are starting to be found with more current patterns to appeal to younger generations.
Even today, the Japanese are attentive to the choice of colors and patterns of the furoshiki that will be used to offer a gift.
Indeed, these two parameters will vary depending on the occasion, the season, and the person to whom the gift is given. Shades like red, gold, light green, and light blue are intended for happy events while darker tones are more appropriate for sad events, where bright colors should be avoided.
Purple is a symbol of longevity, it can be used for any situation.

furoshiki in Nami fabric - www.cestdujoly.be

• the rabbit, usagi, lucky charm, often combined with autumn plants and the full moon,
• the crane, tsuru, represents victory and brings good news (pattern suitable for births and weddings),
• the shell, kai-awase, symbol of marital fidelity

Its shape is currently most often square. The size of the furoshiki varies depending on the intended use:

• 45 cm square: to wrap money (holiday or funeral period),
• 50 or 52 cm square: to carry a bento box or wrap small gifts like a pocket book, a perfume package...
• 68, 70 or 75 cm square: to wrap larger volume gifts
• 90 cm square: to wrap a bottle, an A4 size book or make a small bag to slip several small items into,
• 105 or 118 cm square: the most adaptable for making bags,
• 128 or 140 cm square: to wrap clothes or make a large picnic basket,
• 150 cm square: for transporting or wrapping a bulky object,
• 175 or 195 or 230 cm square: to carry futons and duvets for example for a move.

To make furoshiki, you can of course buy fabric but also recycle by using scraps, old sheets (which can be re-dyed), thrift textiles... to extend the zero waste attitude.
I decided to sell some in my shop to offer, to those who don't know how to sew, pretty furoshiki in current colors.