Towels / Furoshiki / Tenugui

Appeared during the Nara era (710-794), the Furoshiki (風 呂 敷) were once used as garment bags for public baths. The use of these traditional Japanese fabrics has expanded over time and is used today to pack all kinds of objects: shopping bags, bento box packaging, decorative items or packaging for gifts, the Furoshiki can adapt to many needs! 

The Furoshiki have slowly lost their popularity since the end of the Second World War but following the gradual banishment of plastic bags, the Japanese are rediscovering them. Today it is considered as a modern and environmentally friendly way of using them to transport and pack objects: the Japanese Ministry of the Environment even promotes it.

There are hundreds of ways to fold your Furoshiki but the easiest is of course the wrapping of a square object. Place the object in the center of the Furoshiki. Take the side b and fold it towards the side c, folding the point under your object. Then fold side c. Take the sides a and d and fold them. Finally, make a knot with a and d.

In addition to Furoshiki, you can find Tenugui. The Tenugui (手拭い) is a traditional Japanese cloth of relatively small size (35 cm x 90 cm). It started being used during the Edo era (1603-1868) in Japan, to dry hands, body or as an apron.

There are two sorts of Tenugui, le Chusen Tenugui and the printed Tenugui. The Chusen is a traditional method of printing patterns on both sides of the Tenugui. The printed Tenugui on the other hand are printed by machines and don't have any pattern.
Recently, the Tenugui has regained its previous popularity in Japan thanks to different stylish and elegant patterns. There are a few ways to use the Tenugui:

- To dry you face just like a towel
- To wrap bottles or gifts
- To tie one's hair
- To protect one's neck just like a muffler

Be careful, it is not recommended to wash the Tenugui in hot water and to wash it wih other clothes. It has to be dried immediately, avoiding direct contact with the sun.

For a useful and ecological gift, these traditional fabrics are perfect ! Feel free to get in touch with us if you have any questions.