Towels / Furoshiki / Tenugui

The Furoshiki is a traditional wrapping cloth used for many purposes such as bags for shopping, gift and bento box wrapping or wall and table decoration.

This beautiful piece of cloth was broadly popular during the Nara period (710 - 794). Since then many uses and folding techniques have appeared. Furoshiki have slowly lost their popularity in Japan by the end of World War II but with the progressive ban of plastic bags Japanese people are rediscovering them. Today they are considered as a modern and eco-friendly way to carry and wrap things and even the Japanese Ministry of Environment is promoting them. This picture gives a preview of the most common wrapping technique.

The Tenugui (手拭い) is a traditional Japanese cloth of relatively small size (35cm x 90cm). It started being used during the Edo era (1603-1868) in Japan, to dry hands, body or as an apron.

There are two sorts of Tenugui, le Chusen Tenugui and the printed Tenugui. The Chusen is a traditional method of printing patterns on both sides of the Tenugui. The printed Tenugui on the other hand are printed by machines and don't have any pattern.
Recently, the Tenugui has regained its previous popularity in Japan thanks to different stylish and elegant patterns. There are a few ways to use the Tenugui:

- To dry you face just like a towel
- To wrap bottles or gifts
- To tie one's hair
- To protect one's neck just like a muffler

Be careful, it is not recommended to wash the Tenugui in hot water and to wash it wih other clothes. It has to be dried immediately, avoiding direct contact with the sun.