Bright Paper Packages

January heralds the prospect of new beginnings for many, filling us with an overwhelming urge to reinvent and improve ourselves. This month’s Bright Paper Packages box reflects this phenomenon, adhering to the theme of ‘Bright New Year’. All items contained within the package intend to blow away the cobwebs of the preceding year and keep subscribers motivated through January, which often feels like the dreariest month.

The charm of the Bright Paper Packages concept is rooted in a dedication to source high quality and unique items from local manufacturers and artists. The contents are then bundled up in pretty tissue, paper and twine and arrive as a box brimming with surprises. This is ideal for anyone who needs to take a moment and reward themselves for no other reason than…well, just because.

This month, I was impressed to note that the team at Bright Paper Packages have closely listened to the feedback of their subscriber base: specifically, they have redesigned the packaging to allow it to fit through a standard mail slot.

Upon opening the new, trimmed down box, the same care and attention to detail in the packaging was evident. There were no delicate items that wouldn’t withstand a bit of brutish handling. This is another realistic- but lamentable- offshoot of the new packing concept, as the fragile apothecary bottle was one of my personal highlights of November 2015’s Hibernate box!

Bright Paper Packages January 2016 unboxed:

Leather pencil holder from Ark Cambridge
Four pencils
Desk calendar from Not Only Polka Dots
Enamel pin from Hand Over Your Fairy Cakes
Two 40g organic chocolate bars from Daisy & Dam
Letter

The first item opened was a pink handmade leather pencil pouch with ‘Stay Sharp’ printed in gold on the front flap. Four golden sharpened pencils were included inside. The pouch was made by UK-based Ark Cambridge, who use traditional leather-stitching methods for their product range. The pouch is cute, compact and easily portable.

The desk calendar from Not Only Polka Dots in Aberdeenshire comes as a collection of A6 cards, one for each month, that are displayed on a mini wooden easel. Each card is beautifully designed and hand-cut, representing a colourful illustration of a different fruit every month, from watermelons to lemons. They are playful, uncluttered and will give my workspace a pop of character.

Concealed in a paper bag was a small enamel pin that is a Venn diagram of colours, perfect to add a splash of cheer to a winter jacket or drab lapel. The pin isn’t too flashy or kitsch, making it versatile enough to appeal to anyone, no matter what their personal fashion style. It was designed by Hand Over Your Fairy Cakes, based in Glasgow.

Finally, the requisite inclusion of a small indulgence arrives in the form of two small (40g) organic chocolate bars from Doisy & Dam, who use ingredients with health-giving properties. Believe me, this helps to alleviate the guilt of devouring both in one sitting. The two bars that I received were: roasted cacao nibs in organic milk chocolate and lemon, poppy seed and baobab in organic white chocolate. They might sound too healthy in principle to be delicious, but my palate disagreed.

January’s Bright Paper Packages box includes a variety of high quality items, all of which I will personally find use for. The effort put into sourcing eye-catching contents with a purpose really shines through again this month, making this a good investment- or perfect gift- if you’re looking for something to serve as an introduction to some small independent UK studios and to receive something unexpected to perk up your day.

The Bright New Year box delivered me a cheap form of therapeutic relief in the month where I needed it most. I’m eager to see what themes will be curated in the coming months as the year gets into full-swing.

There are a number of subscription options, but a one-off monthly box costs £20 with postage included. Three, six and 12 month subscriptions are also available.