Antique Japanese Fabrics

Furoshiki is a multipurpose square cloth and an intrinsic part of Japanese daily life and culture. The name literally means “bath rug.” It originated from the cloth typically used in public saunas in the 15th century. Later in 17th and 18th century Edo (now Tokyo) the cloth usage expanded to be a carry-all of personal grooming items to public bath. To identify one's furoshiki in a crowded public bath, the cloth was personalized by printing the family’s “kaomon” (crest) on it. This became widely popular. Furoshiki gradually came to serve many purposes, from a clutch to go with a party kimono to a suitcase used on a trip.