about
founder
Tomoko Kakita
I am an interior architect based in London, UK. Living for over two decades in the UK and being immersed in a very different culture has reinforced my appreciation for Japan’s unique traditions. Share in my rediscovery of Japanese heritage in my first book about Furoshiki 風呂敷 and explore ways to introduce the concept of ‘ma’ 間 (pronounced as má), ‘the space between things’ into your home and life.
“The defining principle of Japanese culture and the way of living is characterised by celebrating nature, seasons, and being grateful for what the earth offers us.”
This rediscovery encouraged me to create Tsutsumi as well as “ma space design”.
Spatial design has been my profession for a long time. My job is to help people fill their ‘ma’ with beautiful products and artworks while inspiring them to act responsibly towards our environment. With Furoshiki, we create ‘ma’ in a piece of cloth. We cocoon appreciation, care and compassion as a gift to someone we love. I want to spread this beautiful Japanese culture to the world.
“My mission is to encourage people to reconnect with not only nature but also people and create a little network of appreciation. A message of goodness that you pass on. Just like our ancestors did.”
products
Tsutsumi 包: Furoshiki wrapping cloth
Tsutsumi 包 in Japanese it means ‘wrap’.
The shape of the ancient kanji for Tsutsumi replicates the form of a pregnant woman. The pregnant form enfolds what is most precious, a baby, and the idea of wrapping something precious extends to the act of enfolding an object in a square piece of beautiful fabric.
The more common word for this Japanese wrapping cloth is “Furoshiki”. Its use goes back some 1200 years.
In Japan, there exists the beautiful culture of wrapping treasured items, gifts, and belongings in Furoshiki. In the past, people used Furoshiki to carry trade products for transportation, with the concept that you can use it again and again. The use of Furoshiki has, however, faded since the 1970s due to the introduction of plastic and paper bags, wrapping paper, and luggage.
Tsutsumi is a product name for Furoshiki wrapping cloths which have been designed by me. They are made in Japan using a traditional hand-printed method by skilled craftsmen and can be used for wrapping gifts, sundries, and can even be worn as a face cover for a stylish look.
My ambition is to encourage those who own a Tsutsumi to use it with love and care so that it lasts for a long time. Remember the message of this product: that it is to be used to inspire people to act responsibly towards the environment, to help them to reduce waste, and to encourage them to reconnect with nature. It’s important that this message is passed along. The Tsutsumi may even come back to you again after many people have reused it in different ways.
包について
日本では宝物や贈り物そして日常生活品を風呂敷で包むという美しい習慣があります。風呂敷は商業品を運送する際にも使われていました。風呂敷は何度も繰り返して使われるという性質があります。風呂敷はポリ袋、ラッピングペーパーそして鞄の到来によって７０年代頃から使われなくなってしまいました。
包は柿田知子がデザインした風呂敷の商品名で京都の熟練した友仙染職人が手で掻いてゆく手捺染の方法を使い作りあげられます。贈り物や日常生活品を包んだり、お洒落なフェイスカバーとして顔を包んでみてはどうでしょう。包を使う方々に末長く大切に使っていただくことを願っています。この商品のメッセージを念頭において多くの方々に広げていただきたいです。誰か特別な人に贈り物を包んであげる。たくさんの人に使われた後いつか自分に戻ってくるかもしれません。
包はポリ袋とラッピングペーパーの代わりとして使われるために作り出されました。この商品が使って頂く方々に私たちの環境に対して責任を持って行動し、ゴミを減らす心がけを持ち、 自然とのつながりを取り戻すことを考えさせるきっかけになることを願います。
Tsutsumi is a furoshiki wrapping cloth made in Japan using traditional hand-printed method call 'Yuzenzome' by skilled craftsman. Each colour needs one dyeing block. The artisanal colours are achieved by mixing the dyes by hand.
Join the Tsutsumi revolution and live with less waste while enjoy using the beautiful and versatile Furoshiki wrapping cloth.