Celebrate Green Blog

When I was a little girl, I usually made the gifts I gave and the wrapping as well. I can remember creating elaborate scenes on boxes, first with crayons and later by cutting out designs and gluing them on. Sometimes I’d wrap gifts in my drawings or fashion a kind of quilt from scraps of paper. I can remember feeling just as excited to give the wrapping as the gift.

But once I grew up, like most American adults, I became a wrapping paper-aholic. I prided myself on getting to the store early on December 26th to buy enough paper and ribbon to see me through every celebration for at least a year-at half off. I’m ashamed to admit that my closet was stuffed with rolls of paper, miles of ribbon and assorted matching embellishments. I bet I used up a chihuahua’s weight in tape every couple of years!

I had no idea there was another way.

Then I met (virtually), Patricia Lee, owner of Bobowrap.

Patricia had imported from Korea-and modernized-the idea of wrapping gifts (and everyday items) in fabric.

Brilliant!

If you’re a crafter like me, you’ll love learning how to wrap a gift no matter its size or shape. It’s like simplified origami using fabric. (The Japanese, inventors of origami call their wraps furoshiki.) But even if you’re not into DIY, this method is so quick and easy, anyone from a child of five or six can do it!

Of course, from an environmental standpoint, wrapping this way is a green choice because the fabric can be used over and over again. Plus, no tape, scissors or ribbon are needed. When you wrap with fabric, I discovered, it’s like giving two gifts in one. And while Bobos are not made from organic cotton or other eco-friendly material, Patricia explains, “We do not manufacture our fabric using virgin raw materials. Instead, we scour the secondary markets in the United States for the best fabrics that already exist in the world, most of which are left over from huge designer manufacturing runs.” And Bobos are made in the U.S.

I have become a complete convert to wrapping with cloth. I’ve taken sheets, cut them up, dyed them with natural dyes and used as wraps. Corey has wrapped baby gifts in receiving blankets. I’ve wrapped in scarves I inherited from my mother (adding meaning to the greening). No matter how big or small the item, wrapping in cloth just makes sense. (And of course, helps you celebrate green!)

And just in time for Mother’s Day, we’ve got a great giveaway, a Bobo craft set from our Open Sky shop. Valued at up to $32 (depending on the print you choose), the set includes: a wrap, two brass rings (so you can make a purse to hold the gift) and instruction book.

One winner will be generated at random and everyone else who enters will receive a 10% off discount off of any item in our shop.

Deadline for entries is May 4th.

So sign up here or click on the graphic to the left,
and get wrapping!

And check out this video, where we demonstrate how easy it is to make any gift look sensational with a Bobo. I can do it with my eyes closed!

If you’ve tried wrapping with cloth, tell us about your experience.