Furoshiki Memories

FUROSHIKI MEMORIES

Building a family collection 

Hilary White

One of the best things about fabric is its durability. Fabric items can be used over and over again, and you can save treasures such as monogrammed handkerchiefs, old school ties and a baby’s first blanket for posterity.

Fabric also has the capacity to transport us back in time. Have you ever come across a long-forgotten garment at the back of the wardrobe and immediately been reminded of your wedding day, or a special party, or your child’s babyhood? The colours, patterns and textures of fabric have almost as much power to take us back in time as an evocative smell, or a snatch of music.

Fabric memories link us to the past, but we can also use fabric to establish new memories for the future. Celebratory times tend to generate their own traditions within families, and furoshiki fabric wraps have a special part to play. Building a collection of furoshiki adds layer upon layer to family memories as they are brought out each year. Before long, the wraps will become a fondly remembered, eagerly anticipated and essential part of the family Christmas, Diwali, birthday or anniversary. 

This works particularly well if you are able to choose patterns, colours or motifs to suit individual members of the family. How about retro fabric from the 1960s for granny to remind her of her youth, or dogs for your animal-mad nephew, or purple for your sister because it’s her favourite colour ...? From the youngest child to the oldest grandparent, these special wraps will become like old friends putting in an appearance at each and every family celebration. And when granny is no longer with you, or the youngest child has grown into an adult, their favourite furoshiki can still be used to wrap gifts for other family members.

Durable, sustainable and much more than simply a means of wrapping gifts, introduce furoshiki to your family gift giving occasions and create heirlooms for the future.

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