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Eco-friendly Christmas gift wrapping: Where to buy furoshiki cloth in the UK

Furoshiki cloth can be used an eco-friendly alternative to wrapping paper that can be reused many times. (Stock, Getty Images)
Furoshiki cloth can be used as an eco-friendly alternative to wrapping paper that can be reused many times. (Getty Images)

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Save yourself the Christmas day headache of sorting through discarded wrapping paper, trying to discern which is recyclable and which is destined for landfill, by switching to reusable furoshiki fabric wrapping.

Furoshiki cloths were traditionally used in Japan to transport belongings and to protect precious items during storage, but more recently the beautiful fabrics have started to be used in many countries to wrap gifts, thanks to a growing interest in reducing waste.

With furoshiki cloths the wrapping becomes part of the gift, as they can be passed on and reused almost endlessly (that is, at least until someone spills a glass of red wine over it).

Fabric is stronger than paper, so there's less risk of awkwardly shaped gifts breaking free ahead of 25 December. Plus, there's no need for sticky tape to hold your beautifully wrapped parcels together, simply fold and knot - (there are plenty of tutorials on YouTube to show you how to wrap different shaped gifts).

Another bonus is that the foldable fabrics take up much less space than rolls of half used Christmas wrapping paper to store between seasons.

Get enough of your friends and family onboard and you'll never have to buy gift wrap again, as each year you can exchange gifts wrapped in the same beautiful swathes of fabric.

We've rounded up 12 of the most festive designs available to buy online.

12 festive furoshiki cloths to make your Christmas gifting more sustainable

Midnight Reindeer & Jade Double Sided Furoshiki, by FabRap Shop | From £19.57 at Etsy

Also available at Not On The High Street

Midnight Reindeer & Jade Double Sided Furoshiki (FabRap Shop/Etsy)
Midnight Reindeer & Jade Double Sided Furoshiki (FabRap Shop/Etsy)

Made from soft organic cotton fabric, these double sided jewel-toned wraps feature a lovely subtly festive reindeers' antlers print on one side and a jade and gold star print on the other - which could be used year round for birthday gifts. Available in three sizes to suit different gifts, small: 35x35cm, medium: 55x55cm and large: 75x75cm.

Berry Christmas Knot Wrap | £4 at Lush

Berry Christmas Knot Wrap (Lush)
Berry Christmas Knot Wrap (Lush)

This 50cm square wrap earns extra sustainability points as it is made from recycled plastic bottles. Unsure if it will work on your gift? Lush has created some handy tutorials for wrapping different shaped objects.

Set of 4 Christmas Furoshiki Fabric Wraps, by Kidly Yarn | £16 at Etsy

Also available at Not On The High Street

Set of 4 Christmas Furoshiki Fabric Wraps (Kidly Yarn/Etsy)
Set of 4 Christmas Furoshiki Fabric Wraps (Kidly Yarn/Etsy)

Made by a small business in the UK, these 55cm square cloths are made from finely woven cotton. The designs are digitally printed, which uses less water and energy than other methods, and the wraps are hemmed for a neat, long lasting, finish. One happy shopper wrote in a review: "I love these - no more messing around with sticky tape and scissors, and I can keep and reuse them again and again."

'Stitch And Pass Me On' Fabric Gift Wrap, by Clara and Macy | £18 at Not On The High Street

'Stitch And Pass Me On' Fabric Gift Wrap (Clara and Macy/Not On The High Street)
'Stitch And Pass Me On' Fabric Gift Wrap (Clara and Macy/Not On The High Street)

For an extra personal touch, this 60cm square textured cotton wrap comes with a mini embroidery kit for you to stitch your own message onto it. You could add a new message each year to create an heirloom fabric wrap to pass down. Handmade in a family run Cheshire studio, this wrap is available in four colours with four embroidery thread colours to choose from.

Furoshiki Gift Wrapping Cloth | £16 at Anthropologie

Furoshiki Gift Wrapping Cloth (Anthropologie)
Furoshiki Gift Wrapping Cloth (Anthropologie)

These 70cm cotton squares are adorned with patterns exclusive to Anthropolgie. As well as this merry and bright floral design, the cloths can also be bought in a vibrant yellow floral print and a soft blue shade decorated with regal lions.

Organic Cotton Cloth Gift Wrap, by LittleLeaf Organic | £9 at Not On The High Street

Organic Cotton Cloth Gift Wrap (LittleLeaf Organic/Not On The High Street)
Organic Cotton Cloth Gift Wrap (LittleLeaf Organic/Not On The High Street)

This organic cotton bedding and baby clothes brand has adapted some of its muslins to create these cheery snowman printed furoshiki wraps, (which earn extra green points as they are made in a solar-powered Fair Trade factory). This is an especially good choice if you're putting together a few gifts for a new baby, as muslins are a new parent essential.

Fabric Gift Wrap, Organic Cotton Festive Snowflake Print, by Happywrap | From £11 at Etsy

Fabric Gift Wrap, Organic Cotton Festive Snowflake Print in Green (Happywrap/Etsy)
Fabric Gift Wrap, Organic Cotton Festive Snowflake Print in Green (Happywrap/Etsy)

If you worry you may struggle with tying knots in standard furoshiki cloths, these pretty snowflake adorned organic cotton wraps may be a good choice for you as they have cotton cords attached, making it very easy to wrap your gifts elegantly without tape. Each wrap comes with an illustrated wrapping guide to help get you started. They are available in two sizes (45cm square or a 70cm square) and in packs of up to four wraps, which are sent out in plastic free packaging.

Christmas Liberty London Betsy Print Fabric Gift Wrap, by Forever Wraps | £20 at Not On The High Street

Christmas Liberty London Betsy Print Fabric Gift Wrap (Forever Wraps/Not On The High Street)
Christmas Liberty London Betsy Print Fabric Gift Wrap (Forever Wraps/Not On The High Street)

These pretty fabric gift bags are another easy option for those who worry about getting in a knot over folding the wraps correctly. Available in three gorgeous Liberty prints, this fabric has been fashioned into a small (29cm by 22cm) gift bag, that can be used to wrap books, small toys, toiletries, chocolates or folded clothing. The bags are shipped in recycled and biodegradable plastic-free packaging.

Japanese Sakura Cherry Blossom Bronzing Floral Fabric Fat Quarter Bundles, by YYSZ | £17.99 at Amazon

Japanese Sakura Cherry Blossom Bronzing Floral Fabric Fat Quarter Bundles (YYSZ/Amazon)
Japanese Sakura Cherry Blossom Bronzing Floral Fabric Fat Quarter Bundles (YYSZ/Amazon)

This bumper bundle contains six 18" by 22" fabric swatches with cherry blossom and Christmas wreath designs, many of which feature gold metallic highlights that will shimmer prettily under the Christmas lights.

Reclaimed Vintage Holiday Furoshiki Cloth, by Bergen Street | From £11.35 at Etsy

These handmade wraps come in a range of 31 different reclaimed or vintage fabrics, so there's sure to be something that suits your style. They can be purchased in three different sized squares - a 50cm one ideal for wrapping books, little toys, small boxes of chocolates or jewellery. A medium 70cm one ideal for a bottle of wine, and a large 90cm one for bigger gifts.

Yellow with white stars | From £4.25 at Furoshiki Wrap Company

Yellow with white stars (Furoshiki Wrap Company)
Yellow with white stars (Furoshiki Wrap Company)

If you like your wrapping to stand out amid a sea of festive reds and greens, this bright yellow star print wrap is a bold choice. Available in four sizes, from a mini 30cm square to a large 95cm one, they are made by a family run business based in North Devon.

Visage Textiles Christmas Town Printed Fat Quarter Fabrics | £11 at John Lewis & Partners

Christmas Town Printed Fat Quarter Fabrics (Visage Textiles/John Lewis & Partners)
Christmas Town Printed Fat Quarter Fabrics (Visage Textiles/John Lewis & Partners)

These aren't technically furoshiki wraps, but there's no reason why you can't browse through fabric shops to find interesting designs in which to wrap your gifts - just bear in mind that they may be a little on the thin side so could give a glimpse of present underneath. John Lewis has some beautiful vintage designs available including these festive Christmas town prints in 45cm by 55cm lengths.