Sustainable packaging

New trend: “Furoshiki cloths” as wrapping paper

Japanese tradition meets modern aesthetics - and the scarves are sustainable too!

(Bild: Stoff&Chic)

Every year, Christmas brings with it a huge amount of wrapping paper. More and more people are turning to "Furoshiki cloths" - a sustainable alternative. The owner of the Klagenfurt boutique "Stoff&Chic" explains how they work.

If you want to save yourself the stress of Christmas, get presents for your loved ones early - but instead of wrapping them in traditional wrapping paper as usual, more and more people are trying out a special folding and knotting technique, as Karin Kruse from the "Stoff&Chic" boutique confirms: "This Japanese tradition is also becoming increasingly popular in Austria, especially now at Christmas time." We are talking about furoshiki scarves.

Karin Kruse focuses on the art of furoshiki in her boutique.

(Bild: Stoff&Chic)

Ancient Japanese tradition can look so aesthetic and modern

(Bild: Stoff&Chic)

Kruse teaches her customers the folding and knotting technique in workshops

(Bild: Stoff&Chic)

What is furoshiki?
Furoshiki cloths have their origins in ancient Japan. They were originally used in bathhouses to wrap clothing and personal items. They later found their way into everyday life and were used to wrap gifts or transport goods: "Furoshiki is a sustainable, versatile and stylish alternative to disposable gift wrap and plastic bags. They are reusable, easy to handle and adapt to any object," says Kruse, who also offers workshops at her company: "Participants not only learn how to sew their own cloth, but also the most common tying techniques to use the Furoshiki in a variety of ways." Whether as gift wrapping, a bag, decoration or accessory: the scarves can be used for all kinds of things.

Instructions:

1. place the gift diagonally in the center of the cloth. Note that the gift should not be larger than a third of the diagonal!

2. fold two opposite corners over the gift and wrap it.

3. cross over the remaining corners and tie them into a double knot.

4. optionally, you can decorate the knot or add a card.

In keeping with the Christmas season, the entrepreneur shares simple instructions for a furoshiki wrap (see info box): "Using a Furoshiki scarf is easy and fun," enthuses the Klagenfurt-based entrepreneur, who combines Japanese tradition with modern demands with her own brand "FuroChici".