How to Wrap Gifts with a Bandana (The Japanese Art of Furoshiki)

In this post, we introduce furoshiki, the Japanese art of knotting and folding cloth into protective wrappings and bags. It’s not only beautiful, it’s a more sustainable way to present gifts than disposable paper – and it can be done with something we probably all have in our houses, the mighty bandana!

Furoshiki originated over a thousand years ago in Japanese bathhouses, to keep people’s clothing separate. Lords kept their kimonos separate from each other by wrapping them in a specialty cloth printed with their family crest. The bathhouse tradition is where it got its name: from the characters furo 風呂, bath, and shiki 敷, meaning spread.

Over time, their use widened. They are much more than decorative gift wrap: they are most often used as functional bags and carriers. Using knots and folds to make handles and closures, the simple packable cloth can be used to carry groceries and delicate items. It can both hold the picnic and be the picnic blanket!

Furoshiki cloths can be made out of any material – silk, nylon, rayon, cotton, and even polyester are common. As they became more popular, the craft of making beautiful furoshiki developed. Hand-painted silk with family crests were made for high-end customers, while indigo cotton was used for everyday.

It also developed into standard shapes. The furoshiki is square, and usually ranges in size from 45cm square to 100cm square, although they can be smaller or larger. The bandana is about the same size as a 45cm wrap, about the right size for wrapping many everyday objects about the size of a book. Tenugui is another type of wrap that is oblong, usually with un-hemmed edges, and also used as a wall hanging.

Many traditional Japanese furoshiki have reversible, two-sided designs in different colors. This adds visual interest and color contasts to the completed wrap and makes it easier to follow complex folding instructions.

The time you put into wrapping a furoshiki shows care for the recipient. Some say that the act of carefully knotting, and then unwrapping the gift by untying the knots rather than ripping apart paper, enhances the gift experience.

In November 2023, the New York Times [gift link] brought the Japanese art of furoshiki to Americans, presented as a sustainable alternative to gift wrap.

But even better than recyclable, as the old folk saying goes, is: 'Use It Up, Wear It Out, Make It Do, Or Do Without.' Instead of purchasing, using once, and throwing away paper wrappings, cloth furoshiki is reusable and a second part of the gift on its own. You can even make furoshiki out of scrap fabric or thrifted fabric.

For the recipient, it can be reused as the mighty bandana with all its uses . Many people are in Japan are using furoshiki to wrap decorative cushions. Or it can be washed and lovingly re-gifted as a gift wrap for the next person, continuing the chain and making it a multi-use gift wrap.

Know-how is the only thing you need to turn an everyday bandana into a reusable furoshiki. The bandana turns out to be a perfect size for most small to medium sized items, like books, potted plants, and even a wine bottle .

Here’s a basic everyday wrap that works for most items, in different tutorial formats for different learning styles. For specialty items like wine bottles and potted plants, look at tutorials from furoshiki makers or try a book with a library of wrap styles.

We hope you enjoy learning how to wrap your gifts and create simple carry-alls with furoshiki cloths!

We'd love to hear about your experience with furoshiki gift wrap - leave us a comment below!