A present with out wrapping is sort of a cake with out icing – and the place’s the enjoyable in that? But the waste related to hard-to-recycle wrapping paper signifies that, for many individuals, solely reusable supplies will suffice.
You needn’t inform the Japanese that. Centuries in the past, they elevated the observe of wrapping presents with material, often known as furoshiki, to an artwork type.
For a lesson on furoshiki historical past, design and packaging strategies, the Occasions turned to a first-rate supply: Yamada Sen-i, a furoshiki producer and wholesaler, based in Kyoto in 1937. L firm, proprietor of the furoshiki model Musubi with retail shops in Tokyo and Kyoto, affords greater than 500 designs, together with conventional motifs reminiscent of cranes and flowers, in addition to up to date designs, starting from 350 yen to 35,000 yen ($2.35 to 235 $).
In a video name final month from the corporate’s headquarters in Kyoto, Yamada Sen-i chief designer Kensuke Kawamura and Ayano Hasui, worldwide gross sales and press supervisor, shared their suggestions for packing , reuse and provide furoshiki.
With over 25 wrapping strategies included in “The Furoshiki Guide,” out there on Musubi’s website, the design choices are just about infinite. However all of them quantity to the identical factor, Ms. Hasui stated: “To point out your care to the recipient.” » The dialogue has been edited for size and readability.
What’s the historical past of furoshiki?
AYANO HASUI Furoshiki has been used for over 1,300 years. There’s a doc from the Nara interval, 710 to 794, that reveals folks protecting valuables wrapped in a material known as tsutsumi, which was a predecessor to at present’s furoshiki.
Over time, folks started to make use of it in day by day life.
Within the fifteenth century, for instance, folks took their garments to public baths with furoshiki.
The identify furoshiki comes from “furo”, which suggests public bathtub in Japanese, and “shiki”, which is a sort of sheet or mat.
Now, utilizing furoshiki as a bag is the most well-liked, each for your self (plastic luggage are now not free in Japan, so we use them once we go to the grocery retailer) and likewise for presents.
How large is a typical furoshiki and what’s it fabricated from?
HASUI We primarily promote three sizes, the smallest is 50 centimeters (nearly 20 inches), the medium is 70 centimeters, and the massive measurement is usually 100 centimeters. It is a sq., nevertheless it’s not an ideal sq., really. This is among the traits of a furoshiki. There’s a slight distinction between width and size. It’s because it makes packing simpler.
KENSUKE KAWAMURA Historically we use silk. Nonetheless, at present we’re creating furoshiki created from extra sustainable supplies reminiscent of natural cotton or recycled polyester.
What concerning the patterns, decorations and colours generally discovered on furoshiki?
KAWAMURA (Holding a navy blue furoshiki with a stylized floral sample on half of the piece) It is a pretty conventional sample. The primary sample is all the time on the underside half of the furoshiki, as a result of once we wrap it, the primary sample is within the heart.
Conventional designs embrace auspicious designs reminiscent of cranes, turtles and pine bushes.
(Holding a furoshiki printed with brightly coloured peonies) This up to date furoshiki is definitely the corporate’s best-selling mannequin; we collaborated with the French designer Adeline Klam (the primary time we labored with a international designer).
This sample is kind of conventional, however the coloring and format may be very up to date.
What’s the primary method for wrapping with furoshiki?
HASUI (Utilizing a pink and light-weight inexperienced furoshiki with a plum blossom sample) We advocate working with a reversible furoshiki as this provides an exquisite colour distinction.
In a basic technique, you place the furoshiki at an angle, in order that it has the form of a diamond, and also you place the present field within the center. Then you definately pull the underside nook excessive of the wrapper and tuck it beneath.
Then you definately decrease the highest nook of the furoshiki onto the field and fold the underside nook right into a triangle, in order that the reversible facet is seen.
Then you definately pinch the proper facet of the furoshiki and pull it tightly over the sting of the wrapper and do the identical factor on the opposite facet. Be certain that the corners are sharp.
We are going to tie the ends with essentially the most basic tie, known as ma-musubi in Japanese, a kind of sq. knot.
And then you definately simply must tie them with a easy knot.
And then you definately take away the material from the knot to see the reversible sample.
Any suggestions or recommendation on packaging strategies?
HASUI The dimensions of the furoshiki is basically vital. The present must be one-third of a furoshiki for an optimum match, which suggests the present ought to take up one-third of the horizontal house in the event you’re taking a look at a furoshiki organized in a diamond form.
KAWAMURA If you wish to present your consideration, select seasonal designs or designs that an individual would love. For instance, if I wish to give one thing to my father, perhaps I select a pine design as a result of it has a that means of lengthy life.
On what events do you give presents with furoshiki?
KAWAMURA After I go to a good friend’s home, I all the time convey wine like this. (Displaying a furoshiki with two double-wrapped bottles inside.)
HASUI Do it double packaging bag isn’t that tough. Place the furoshiki in a diamond form, as earlier than. Place the 2 bottles horizontally within the center with the bottoms going through inwards, however be sure you go away an area of two or three centimeters between the bottoms.
Pull the underside nook of the furoshiki and canopy the bottles. Roll the bottles away from you till you might have used all the room. Choose up the nook of the material on the backside and tuck it between the bottles. This would be the cushion between them. Then you definately raise the bottles and stand them upright. And we do ma-musubi, the basic knot, on high.
reuse a furoshiki?
KAWAMURA My spouse and I take advantage of them for presents and we all the time wrap the cushions with furoshiki. We will change it very simply all through the seasons. We by no means purchase pillowcases.
HASUI After unpacking the wine, you should utilize it as a bag. And aside from that, there are a number of methods to make use of it as an organizer on your travels. And it may be framed: you should utilize it as wall ornament. The trait of furoshiki is versatility.