Japanese Furoshiki Supplier

Akazuki supplies furoshiki, the traditional Japanese wrapping cloth, made in Kyoto. Cotton or polyester, traditional or modern pattern, our range is built to suit retailers selling anything from gift wrap to reusable bags.

Want pricing and the full pattern range? Request our catalog here.

What is a furoshiki?

A furoshiki is a square cloth used for wrapping, carrying, and gift-giving. Unlike paper wrapping, it’s meant to be reused indefinitely, which is part of why it’s seeing renewed interest from retailers positioning themselves around sustainability. Tied differently, the same cloth becomes a gift wrap, a bag, or a way to carry groceries.

A brief history

Furoshiki date back at least to the Nara period, but they became common during the Edo period, when people used them to carry clothing to and from public bathhouses. Merchants adopted the practice too, using furoshiki to protect goods in transit and, later, as an elegant way to wrap gifts. According to some accounts, a soldier even used one to sketch a map during the Second World War.

Materials and modern use

Today’s furoshiki come in silk, cotton, and nylon, often decorated with traditional motifs or dyed using the shibori technique. Sizes range from small hand cloths to pieces large enough to double as a bedsheet.

Furoshiki use has declined somewhat in favor of plastic bags and backpacks, but it hasn’t disappeared. In Japan, they’re still common for wrapping bento, and for use as a picnic blanket or impromptu tablecloth.

How to tie one

The technique is simple. Start with a square cloth, fold two opposite corners over your item, then take the remaining two corners and tie them in a simple knot.