Returning to Furoshiki at HYPER JAPAN
For the past two years, one of the highlights of our summer has been sharing the art of Furoshiki at the HYPER JAPAN Festival 2026. In 2026, we’re delighted to return for a third year of workshops, continuing conversations around sustainability, craftsmanship, and the quiet beauty found in everyday rituals.
For anyone unfamiliar with it, Furoshiki is the traditional Japanese practice of wrapping and carrying items using a square piece of cloth. Although its history stretches back centuries, it feels remarkably relevant today. At a time when so much packaging is used once and discarded, Furoshiki offers a more thoughtful alternative — something reusable, adaptable, and made to last.
What first drew us to Furoshiki was its practicality. A single cloth can become gift wrap, a shopping bag, a bottle carrier, or a way of protecting treasured belongings while travelling. But the more time we spent with it, the more we began to appreciate its quieter qualities too: the care involved in wrapping something beautifully, the creativity of different folds and knots, and the sense that even ordinary objects deserve attention and respect.
Our own fascination began many years ago in Japan after receiving a beautifully wrapped gift. What started as admiration for the presentation gradually became a lasting appreciation for the philosophy behind it — the idea that usefulness, beauty, and environmental awareness do not need to exist separately.
Returning to HYPER JAPAN each year has been especially rewarding because of the people we meet there. Some participants arrive with a long-standing interest in Japanese culture, while others simply wander into the workshop out of curiosity. Often, by the end of the session, people are surprised by how naturally Furoshiki fits into modern life.
The workshops this time continue to explore both the artistic and practical sides of the tradition.
About the workshops:
The wrapping workshop introduces three classic styles — Hira Tsutsumi, Otsukai Tsutsumi, and Hashi Tsutsumi — each demonstrating different ways cloth can be used to wrap gifts and everyday items with elegance and functionality. Meanwhile, the teardrop bag workshop focuses on creating a sturdy and versatile bag using only a single cloth and a few carefully placed knots.
What we appreciate most about teaching these workshops is that they are accessible to everyone. You do not need previous crafting experience, specialist tools, or complicated materials. The simplicity is part of the appeal. From one square of fabric comes something useful, reusable, and personal.
Participants attending the teardrop bag workshop will leave with their finished bag, while those joining the wrapping workshop will take home the materials and techniques needed to continue practising at home. More importantly, we hope people leave with a slightly different perspective on wrapping, gifting, and everyday sustainability.
If you’d like to join us, full workshop details and booking information can be found here:
Workshop Sessions
Friday 24 July
17:15–18:15 — Furoshiki Wrapping Workshop
18:30–19:30 — Furoshiki Teardrop Bag Workshop
Saturday 25 July
16:30–17:30 — Furoshiki Wrapping Workshop
18:00–19:00 — Furoshiki Teardrop Bag Workshop
Sunday 26 July
15:40–16:40 — Furoshiki Wrapping Workshop
As always, a separate HYPER JAPAN Festival ticket is required for entry on the same day.
We’re very much looking forward to returning again in 2026 and to sharing Furoshiki with both familiar faces and those discovering it for the first time.
