Furoshiki is a type of traditional Japanese wrapping cloth that has been usually used to transfer clothes, gifts, or other goods. Dating back as far as the Nara period, the name of Furoshiki, meaning “Bath Spread”, derives from the practice of using them to bundle clothes while at the Sento ( Public Bathhouse) in Edo Period. Before becoming associated with public baths, Furoshiki was known as Hirazutsumi, or flat folded bundle. Eventually the use of Furoshiki extended to serve as a mean for merchants to transfer their wares or to protect and decorate a gift.
Modern Furoshiki can be made of a variety of cloths such as silk, chirimen, cotton, rayon, and nylon. Furoshiki is often decorated with various traditional designs or by Shibori (special dying methods). There is no standard size for Furoshiki, it ranges from handy size to a size even larger than bed sheets. The most common sizes are 45cm and 68-72 cm.
