This season's hottest trend? Reusable fabric gift wrap...

Reusable fabric gift wrap has been popping up all over Instagram, and shops have responded with colourful, jazzy and affordable collections of fabric gift wrap.

But while it may be a new concept to many of us in the UK, it's actually not a new thing; the Japanese have been wrapping with fabric for years.

Named Furoshiki in Japan, the gift wrapping (opens in new tab) phenomenon has been taking the western world by storm this year.

Marie Kondo, who has built her empire and reputation around attainable minimalism – including buying less – also swears by this method of gift wrapping.

Her Instagram post reads: "You can use furoshiki to wrap just about anything. They look beautiful around a bottle of wine, candles and even the most oddly shaped items. But best of all, they’re reusable, which makes them a gift to the earth as well. So, if you’re wondering what to do about gift wrapping this holiday season, try picking some fabric squares that spark joy for you and use them furoshiki-style."

See Also: Eco wrapping ideas - expert advice for chic and sustainable gifts (opens in new tab)

You can use fabric wraps to tie up just about everything and anything, and you can reuse them year after year, resulting in less Christmas wrapping paper ending up in landfill.

The method is totally waste-free; and you won’t need so much as one inch of tape. 

Leading the way in fabric gift wrap this year are Notonthehighstreet.com (opens in new tab), Etsy (opens in new tab), and new kids on the block The Fabric Wrapping Co (opens in new tab).

While tags for #furoshiki (opens in new tab) are nearing 100,000 on Instagram, Etsy also reported on the rising trend this year. 

"There has been a 110% increase in searches on Etsy for eco friendly gift wrap items in the last 3 months (compared to the same time last year)," Etsy's trend expert Dayna Isom Johnson us.

She explains: “The festive season can be one of the most wasteful times of the year, and many are prioritising items that reduce their environmental impact as much as possible, now more than ever. From the gift to the gift wrap, shoppers are seeking a greener alternative this year to help reduce waste."

When selecting a fabric for furoshiki gift wrapping, make sure it’s double the size of your gift and at least an extra inch longer, so you have plenty of fabric to tie together at the end. For an extra-sustainable option that doesn’t require cutting, repurpose a piece of fabric that you already have – like a tea towel or vintage scarf – that already fits around your gift.

There are numerous methods to wrap with fabric, some of which are explained in tutorial videos on fabricwrappingco.com (opens in new tab).

The new brand offers bold, reusable gift wrap. The founders explain that "in the UK alone we use 50,000 trees each year in almost always single use wrapping paper." Thus, aside from creating a more eco-friendly alternative, they have also launched a campaign called Wrap with Care (opens in new tab), and they plant a new tree for everyone that pledges to do things differently on wrapwithcare.com.

Bigger brands are cottoning on too (pun intended), and Frugi gifts now come with the option of being beautifully wrapped in an organic cotton Furoshiki wrap cloth, which are essentially pieces of trimmed fabric left over at Frugi’s factories.

The Christmas Furoshiki cloth wraps are also available for purchased here (opens in new tab).

See how people are styling their fabric gift wrap Furoshiki style this year...