Origami

A sheet of paper, cleverly folded, metamorphoses into a bird, animal, flower or just about anything you desire, the wonder of origami!

What is origami?
Origami is the 17th century Japanese art of paper folding that became known to the rest of the world around the mid 20th century. The craft originated several centuries earlier in China, where paper was first developed, and travelled to Japan with Chinese Buddhist monks. Here, it acquired the name origami (ori=to fold, gami=paper). Historically, origami designs and folding techniques in both cultures were passed down as an oral tradition from mothers to daughters.

The origami influence on fashion and furniture
In Japan, origami acquired new strength and flowered into a complex, beautiful art form and began influencing other spheres like fashion, architecture and furniture.

Origami-inspired sharp angles and abstract designs in buildings were a first in modern Japanese architecture.

Fashion designers worldwide now derive creative ideas from the clean, incisive lines of origami. Donna Karan bags and Bottega Veneta toteshave featured geometrical, origami-style folds. Boxy, structured clothes, in solid black-and-white and greyscale, suggesting the rigidity of paper, have featured in fashion collections from renowned names like Calvin Klein, Christian Lacroix and Rick Owens. The 2009 Chanel spring collection featured paper headdresses created by Japanese designers. Origami in fashion is an ongoing trend.

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• Origami: Paper-Folding Made Easy (Linda M. Walker)
• Densho Origami
• My First Origami Book
• Origami for Children (Mari Ono, Roshin Ono)