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More than gift wrap

Gift packaging trends: materials, colours & customised solutions

2 Oct 2026

Gift packaging is becoming more colourful and individual, with greater attention paid to materials. Bold colours, distinctive surfaces, customised details and alternative papers are shaping new collections – making gift packaging relevant far beyond Christmas.

Reading time: 3 minutes

Colour, patterns & finishes

Bold colours, eye-catching patterns and distinctive finishes define current approaches to gift packaging. Graphic and floral designs meet metallic, foil and gloss effects – ranging from bold and colourful to elegant and detailed.

FINEST Modern Vibes by ARTEBENE

Bold colours, graphic florals and large-scale dots define FINEST Modern Vibes. Magenta and orange meet black and ivory, bringing gift packaging and stationery together in a contrasting, coordinated look.

Decorative Paper by Grafiche Tassotti

Floral and botanical motifs meet reinterpretations of historic Remondini designs. Made in Italy, the decorative papers are printed on acid-free paper and combine a wide variety of patterns with clear, expressive colours.

Christmas Collection by KARTOS

Fine ornaments and accents in powdered gold give the Christmas Collection an elegant, festive feel. The range includes greeting cards, gift wrap and other packaging solutions, with refined finishes that make the packaging itself part of the presentation.

Custom gift packaging for retailers & brands

Custom-designed packaging can extend a brand identity right down to the smallest detail. Colours, materials, prints and ribbons can be coordinated with the corporate design to create a consistent packaging concept.

Custom packaging concepts by VIVANT

From printed ribbons and cords to gift boxes and wrapping papers, VIVANT develops bespoke packaging concepts for retailers and brands. Designs, materials and branding are coordinated across different elements – including private-label solutions.

Find out more about VIVANT

Gift boxes made to last

Sturdy gift boxes can continue to be used after the gift has been opened. Decorative surfaces, coordinated materials and distinctive patterns make them an attractive design element in their own right.

Luxury Boxes by Rico Design

Glossy pearl-effect paper meets high-quality natural paper. The colours and surfaces of the Paper Poetry Luxury Boxes are coordinated with matching cards, envelopes and ribbons, creating cohesive gift sets based on a consistent design concept.

Decorative boxes by Grafiche Tassotti

The lightweight lidded boxes are made entirely by hand from matt 200 gsm board. Designs from the Tassotti collection give each version its own character – turning the box into more than simply packaging.

Lokta boxes by Tudi Billo

The boxes combine handcrafted production with the characteristic surface of Nepalese Lokta paper. Its long, flexible fibres create a silky sheen, while the handmade production process gives each sheet a subtly individual texture.

Distinctive materials for gift packaging

Alongside traditional gift wrap, handmade papers, grass fibres and recycled cotton offer alternative options. Different textures and surfaces expand the creative possibilities and give gift packaging a distinctive tactile quality.

Handmade Lokta paper by Tudi Billo

Lokta paper is traditionally made by hand in Nepal. The long, flexible fibres of the Lokta plant give the paper a silky sheen, while the handmade production process creates its characteristic irregular deckled edge. Once dyed and printed, it becomes a packaging material with a distinctly handcrafted character.

Grass paper by ZOEWIE

ZOEWIE combines grass paper with recycled waste paper for its gift packaging – for example, in a ratio of 40 to 60 per cent. The grass comes from regional compensation areas and grows back quickly; the finished paper can subsequently be recycled through the waste-paper stream.

Recycled cotton by Ratan Papers

From textile waste to gift packaging: Ratan Papers makes its gift bags by hand from recycled cotton fabric. Floral prints and the textile surface give the material an unusual tactile quality and clearly set the bags apart from conventional paper packaging.