Frequently asked questions
How do I know which size wrap to buy?
Check out our comprehensive list of common gifts/gift sizes, and the size of wrap you will need here. Remember that you will need enough left over fabric to tie the knots. If in doubt, always go for a larger wrap - or contact us via email or Instagram, and we can advise.
What if I find wrapping with fabric too complicated?
The basic wrapping technique is actually very simple. If you can tie a knot, you can wrap a gift in fabric. Check out our clear, step-by-step videos and diagrams for different wrapping techniques here - and we promise that you’ll be wrapping your gifts with ease in no time at all. You also don’t have to follow a set technique. Simply bundling up the gift and knotting the fabric looks great - particularly if the fabric is patterned and you tie an embellishment to the knot. As yet another option, you can wrap the fabric around the gift and tie with ribbon - in the same way as you would with paper.
How do I go about asking for my fabric wrap to be returned?
We understand that it might feel a bit awkward asking for the wrap back, once the gift has been opened. In our experience, people don’t usually take offence. Apart from anything else, it saves them having to deal with rubbish, and also starts an interesting dialogue about sustainability and our ‘single use’ culture. Another alternative is to give the wrap as part of the gift, along with the instruction card - with the intention of it being passed on, reused over and over again, and spreading the word about eco-friendly ways of wrapping our gifts.
Why not just used recycled and recyclable wrapping paper?
There is no doubt that recycled and recyclable paper is a better option than non-recyclable glittered and plasticised gift wrap. However, if you are tempted to use sticky tape with your recycled paper, you are making it un-recyclable unless someone removes all the tape before putting it in the recycling bin. There is also the question of recycling versus reusing. Recycling is better than discarding, but it still uses energy - and paper has a limited recycling life. Reusing is always the greenest option, particularly if the item is made from organic or reclaimed fabric.
Why are the wraps not double-sided?
Some furoshiki are made from two pieces of fabric sewn back-to-back. This has the advantage of ensuring that however you wrap the gift, the back of the fabric never shows. We have made the decision not to produce double-sided wraps for a number of reasons. A single wrap made from two pieces of fabric doubles both resources and cost - and we want to keep our wraps as affordable as possible. Unless the wrap is made from synthetic fabric (which we aim to avoid), a double-sided design can be bulky, and the pattern on many of our printed cottons is virtually as strong on the back as the front of the fabric. Where this is not the case, we have lots of tips for ensuring that the back doesn’t show when you wrap your gift (see How to use).
How do I use the wraps for children’s gifts?
We understand that opening a fabric wrapped gift is harder for young children than tearing off the paper. Tying the wrap with a loose single knot and teaching them how to untie their gift is a great new skill for them to learn. It’s never too soon to introduce children to environmentally friendly approaches - and what better way than when presents are involved!
What if I can’t afford to wrap all my gifts in fabric?
Fabric wraps are more expensive than paper - and although they can save you money in the long run, they do involve an initial investment. Many users of fabric wraps build up their collection over a period of time. If we all wrapped just two or three Christmas presents in fabric each year, it would make quite a difference to the amount of wrapping paper that ends up in landfill. There are also a number of more environmentally sound paper wrapping options you can use while building up your fabric collection, including recycled (and reusable) brown paper, used newspaper and string.
How do I care for my wrap?
Hopefully your fabric wraps will stay fresh and clean from one year to the next - but if they do need laundering, we recommend using a cool cycle with minimal spin along with eco-friendly detergent. Some of the fabrics can get a bit wrinkled after use. The wrinkles don’t show when the wrap is used again, but you can run an iron over the fabric if you wish.
Will my wrap ever wear out?
Nothing lasts forever - but hopefully your wrap will go on for many years. Even in the largest families, wraps are not used every day! If your wrap is getting a bit dog eared, you can return it to us and we will re-hem it for just the cost of the postage. This will, of course, very slightly reduce the size of your wrap. Click here to use our re-hemming service.