Furoshiki, sustainable art
Japan, 8th century. In the middle of the Nara Era they began to use the term furoshiki, but until the Edo Era (XVII-XIX. the 20th century) did not spread. Furoshiki is the art of collecting objects in ovens, but its etymology makes its origin clear: furo means bath and shiki means ceremony. That is, at first the Japanese used these cloths to wrap clothes in so-called solid baths. But then the use expanded, along with the size of the cloths: passengers used them to carry luggage, collect gifts, street vendors to transport goods... The design of the cloths also gained importance. In fact, in bathrooms, the images and colors of the fabrics used to identify who the clothes belonged to, but became more and more specific in meaning, to the point of marking the family, geographical origin and/or social class of the users.
But during World War II, Japan was a loser, and so was the art of furoshiki. After the war, the use of plastic, cardboard and paper to wrap things spread everywhere, and even the Japanese rejected the handkerchiefs.
During World War II, Japan was a loser, and so was the art of furoshiki. After the war, the use of plastic, cardboard and paper to wrap things spread everywhere, and even the Japanese rejected handkerchiefs.
Half a century later, in 2000, the Japanese Ministry of the Environment decided to revive the old custom by launching an intense campaign for furoshiki art; today, contents for learning furoshiki techniques can still be found on the Ministry’s website. And in Japan they have managed not only to recover the custom, but also to spread it abroad. Unlike many other packaging, fabrics are reusable. Although silk furoshikis were preferred in the past, more economical and sustainable materials, mainly organic cotton, are now commonly used. And fabric pieces that have previously had other uses can also be reused as wrappers.
The collection of the gift by furoshiki in ancient Japan was as important as the gift itself. And the old art reminds us that making sustainable gifts today has a double value.
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