Furoshiki, A Sustainable Design Practice
Furoshiki, traditional Japanese wrapping cloths, were frequently used to transport clothes, gifts, and other goods. Dating back as far as the Nara Period (710 to 794 AD), the name means “bath spread,” when they were used to carry clothes in public baths. Eventually, they were used by merchants to transport wares and for personal use to wrap gifts. In a sustainable practice, gifts are still presented in these handmade fabrics and, when a gift is given in return, it is bundled in the same cloth. A family crest or design identifies the original creator. Furoshiki are decorated with traditional hand-stitching, batik, or by a twist-dye method, called Shibori. They range from hand size to larger than bed-sheets. The wrapping cloth pictured demonstrate traditional needlework, Sashiko. This artful, sustainable stitchery technique was developed to strengthen, reinforce, and repair workers’ garments and keep these older fabrics in continuous use. Like the Furoshiki, the sustainable design practices of Stephen B. Chambers Architects, Inc. are an artistic, imaginative, practical, and sensitive approach to contemporary issues.
