Furoshiki – Asanoha

The wrapping culture of Japan has developed across more than 1,000 years, and wrapping things in cloth is said to have already been a custom by the Nara period (710-794 CE). Furoshiki continue to be used in many ways, from binding precious objects as a means to protect them, to wrapping gifts decoratively, or to carry objects from place to place. These 100% cotton furoshiki are printed one by one on an old roller printing machine that highly skilled craftspeople adjust throughout the process to render the finest details of the patterns. The patterns themselves have been designed with careful thought towards their symbolic meaning.

This furoshiki features a hemp leaf (asanoha) and hexagonal tortoise shell (kikkō) pattern. Asanoha pattern has been used for kimonos since the Heian period (794-1185 CE) and represent a prayer for healthy growth and prosperity, while tortoise shells are a symbol of longevity.