We can’t believe a whole year has gone by already and the National Stationery Show 2013 is here! This is one of our favorite events of the year that we actually attend (not plan!) so we are certainly looking forward to checking out all of the latest in the ‘paper’ biz. It’s always great going with Jennifer, our senior lead designer here at TFT, as we can see all of the ideas forming in her mind as we walk throughout the Javits Center – her creativity is endless!! We can’t wait to check out some of the newest trends and share some great new designs with you! In the meantime, check out this summary we put together from last year’s show featuring some of the hottest trends that took off in 2012.
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Laser Cutting- Though it has been around for a long time, it is back and in high demand! Laser cutting is a technology which uses a laser to cut out custom prints and designs in materials such as papers, plastics, wood and more. This allows for a very precise and unique design to be incorporated into invitations and stationery. It also adds a very high fashion element to the invitations and truly takes them to a couture level – think of it as paper lace! With the resurgence of lace in everyday and bridal fashion, it is no surprise this trend is back on the scene. This can be incorporated with a belly band, sleeve or envelope. An added bonus about laser cutting is that it has now become more affordable! With technology continuing to evolve it has increased capabilities and reduced labor time which in turn has helped to cut costs to the customer. This is one trend TFT absolutely adores!
Unique Colors- With the color of the year as Tangerine Tango, bright and bold colors are popping up everywhere. Some of the current trends in fashion such as neons, color blocking and pastels are now being showcased in paperie. Neons such as electric green, comet blue and even soleil yellow are being incorporated by the bride looking to be anything but traditional. Other trending colors are pastels such as coral and ginger- which are variations of tangerine. A great way to ‘wow’ your guests is by stepping outside the box and using unique color combinations that may have never considered before.
Bold Patterns - With unique colors comes bold patterns! If you are looking for a modern invitation suite, then using a bold pattern is the way to go. Geometric shapes, lines, stripes and graphics are all considered as bold patterns. Whether it is used as a layer, pocket or envelope, there are many ways to incorporate a pattern and still balance it out for a chic, clean look. This is also a fantastic element to carry over to the decor with patterned stationery, linens and even fashion! (Fun socks for the Groomsmen anyone?)
Not Just Paper Anymore- Who said invitations were just meant to be on paper? Now with the help of new technologies, other textiles are being used more frequently for invitations and stationery.With different textiles also being used in fashion for apparel, jewelry and other accessories, it is easy to see how this is reflected in the stationery world. From steel, wood, leather, lucite and beyond, incorporating these materials adds a different spin on the traditional paper invite. Creating invitations out of these materials can also become a keepsake for guests for years to come!
Interactive- We have seen many love stories, engagement shoots and save the date videos but now invitations are going ‘digital’ too! Even the fashion world has come up with a Digital Fashion Week – which live streams runway shows from all over the globe with the use of online videos and QR codes. With QR Codes on just about every product out there, why not incorporate them on your Save the Date or Invitation? Stkr.it is a company that creates custom QR codes that you can record video, sound or photos to. The QR codes are then printed onto stickers that can be adhered to your Save the Date or Invitation for your to share a special message with your guests. To view your message, recipients can either scan the QR code on their smart phone or visit the Stkr.itwebsite – how cool is that?! What a great way to add a personal touch to your stationery!
