Origami and Japanese packaging

I love Japanese packaging. The colors, meticulous methods of packaging, and presentation are what catch my eye. When I was little I relished shopping at the department store with my Mom because of the cool bags and gifts they would include. They were so exacting when wrapping your items, and then sealing the top of your bag with store emblemed tape. It's like origami but for your shopping bag. I'm sure the current attention to the environment will shift packaging from paper to reusable bags or cloth, such as furoshiki. Furoshiki is the art of using cloth to wrap various items such as wine bottles or boxes. It literally means bathspread since people in the olden times would use it to carry items to the local bathhouse. Check out the imaginative ways to package!

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(funsterz.com)




(http://art-maddie.blogspot.com/2011/08/wrapping-techniques-furoshiki.html)

Here's another article about Japanese Happy Bags sold during New Year. For a fee ranging from $100 -$300 USD, you get a gift bag filled with clothing, electronics, and other treats. Most times, the total value of the contents exceed the price paid.