Here’s an interesting fact: each holiday season, around 4 million tons of gift wrap and decorations end up in landfills across the United States. Not only are wrapping paper and gift bags for occasions like birthdays and Christmas tough on the environment, but they can also be surprisingly pricey.
I’ve previously made reusable gift bags and DIY produce bags, but there’s another great alternative: a Japanese furoshiki wrapping cloth. It’s a simple, beautiful, and eco-friendly way to wrap items for gifts or travel. A furoshiki is a single piece of rectangular or square fabric that has transformed over centuries. Originally known as tsutsumi in Japan as early as 710, by 1336 it was used in bathhouses to wrap clothes and as a mat to dry off, earning the name “furoshiki,” meaning “bath spread.”
Nowadays, furoshiki wraps are used for gifts, wine bottles, books, groceries, and more. Other countries have their fabric wraps too, like Korea’s ornate bojagi. Some people line the wraps with another fabric to display patterns and colors after wrapping.
Switching from paper to fabric might take some getting used to, but here are a few reasons to try it out:
Since furoshiki is reusable, it offers a sustainable alternative to traditional wrapping paper. Unlike plastic-coated bags and boxes, which often end up in landfills or consume energy in recycling, furoshiki reduces waste. I enjoy making homemade gifts, but they often have unique shapes or packaging needs, like baked goods. Glass containers work for food but can be cumbersome. A fabric furoshiki wrap is flexible, easily adjusting to various shapes.
Using furoshiki is not only eco-friendly but also a time-saver for gift wrapping. One Christmas, my daughters and I made reusable cloth bags, cutting wrapping time in half! These cloth wraps make thoughtful presents on their own in addition to complementing the gift.
If you give someone a furoshiki cloth, include wrapping instructions to ensure it doesn’t end up forgotten in a drawer. Choose fabrics with themed patterns, or decorate a plain fabric with paint. It’s a fun project for kids too—provide them with fabric markers to create unique designs or messages. It becomes a cherished keepsake for grandparents or future generations.
Furoshiki wrap fabric is affordable and environmentally friendly, often repurposing items you already have. Just remember to use a cloth roughly three times the size of the item you’re wrapping. Thin fabrics aren’t sturdy enough, and sheer ones might reveal the contents. Opt for sturdy, moderately thick fabric like cotton. For extra toughness, line the inside with another thin fabric to avoid making it too bulky.
Making reusable gift wraps is easy:
1. Measure and cut a square or rectangular fabric piece using a yardstick. A common size is 36 by 36 inches, but adjust based on what’s being wrapped. Larger fabric items like tablecloths might need resizing.
2. For no-sew wraps, cut the fabric with pinking shears to avoid fraying. Otherwise, cut with scissors, pin the edges as you would for a hem, and sew.
For a lined wrap with two patterns or colors, cut two same-size fabric pieces and ensure they aren’t too thick to tie easily.
Furoshiki wraps can be purchased for repeated use. They come in various styles, some quite beautiful, offering practical options for common gift shapes.
This kind of cloth bag is ideal for carrying items like bread or apples from the grocery store or farmers’ market. Have you ever used a cloth wrap? What items would you try wrapping with one?
