Give or Take: Who Keeps Furoshiki Wrapping?
Reusable gift wrap brings with it an unavoidable question: who keeps the wrapping "paper" after the gift is received?
The Traditional Way
In Japan, when something is wrapped in the tradition of furoshiki, the gift-giver will take the cloth home with them after the present is received. There is a major exception, however: furoshiki cloth is, itself, a gift given to guests at Japanese wedding receptions. It’s a sweet and practical gift on top of a gift for newlyweds.
Furoshiki: Who Keeps the Reusable Cloth Gift Wrap?
The Modern Ways
That being said, you shouldn’t feel obligated to follow this tradition. Modern furoshiki trends allow for booth options. You can kindly ask for the wrap back, or give it away with the present.
By giving away a wrap, you get to give a gift within a gift. Many customers include our instructions for the simplest furoshiki wrapping techniques tucked into the package to increase the likelihood that it will be reused.
Leave a Note
We think leaving a little note with the gift is a clever strategy to navigate the furoshiki exchange. You can write to ask them to reuse the wrap, saying, “Please reuse this furoshiki fabric to celebrate its sustainability and versatility.”
Or write something more fun, like “Use this as wrapping paper the next time you give me a gift!”
If you want it back, the note can read, “You can honor the Japanese furoshiki tradition by returning this wrap to the gifter.”
Go With the Flow
Ultimately, most people manage this situation intuitively. If the gift recipient falls in love with the wrap, they may ask if they can keep it. It’s okay to direct them to our website — where they can find their own — and still ask them to return it to you.
If they don’t plan to reuse it, they will likely offer it back to the recipient. You can even ask if they think it’s something they’ll use again. You may find that the recipient finds new and creative uses for the wrap.
Keep the Shiki Going
Customers adore using Shiki Wrap with friends and family, swapping favorite designs during holidays and other special occasions. Ideally, if your whole family and friend group embrace Shiki Wrap, you can enjoy an endless cycle of giving and receiving wraps along with presents.
Some people may only wrap gifts with Shiki Wrap for people they’re close to. It becomes a fun tradition that eliminates those guilt-inducing heaps of paper waste in the aftermath of the celebration. And all the beautiful wraps stay in your group of loved ones.
Everyone Wins With Shiki Wrap
Shop our array of Shiki Wrap in unique and gorgeous patterns and colors to find one that reminds you of a loved one. Whether you keep it or gift it, Shiki Wrap is a brilliant way to spread appreciation and sustainability.
