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DIY CHRISTMAS
Listed under: Trend Report
Published: Monday, December 01, 2008
The gloves have come off and the battle for Christmas custom has begun; but rather than fight over festive bargains, this year's savvy consumer is making their own
Gone are the days when sales were enough to entice shoppers into major retail stores. This Christmas, concerns about the environment, cash-flow problems and the desire for individuality have driven many consumers to forgo shop-bought items in favour of gifts, cards, decorations and wrapping materials they have made themselves.
“There has definitely been a rise in the number of people expressing an interest in making their own gifts this year,” explains craft and interiors expert Catherine Worman. “This is something we always notice whenever there is any sort of economic decline. Of course, the ecological element of recycling is also very important as people want to make the most of the fabrics and paper they have acquired throughout the year.
“Nowadays, people are more interested than ever in having a thrifty Christmas,” she continues. “Consumers are attending workshops to learn how to make, bake and sew their own pieces, so they can turn unwanted goods into beautiful one-of-a-kind presents.” And shoppers are not just choosing to make their own cards, but also Christmas wreaths, wall hangings, napkins, rings, candles, decorations, crackers, and tree toppers too! “This is definitely a growing trend,” Catherine continues. “And it is very likely this 'make do and mend' philosophy will continue to stay strong for quite sometime, not only during Christmas but Valentine's Day and Easter too.”
However, DIY gifts and decorations are not the only trends taking the industry by storm. Furoshiki is the latest craze to sweep the nation. It is an ancient Japanese-style of gift wrapping which uses large pieces of cloth to wrap presents, instead of paper. “Lots of people have shown an interest in the furoshiki way of wrapping presents this year,” says Laura Underwood, head of Recycle Now. “It is a great way of reducing waste and makes the gift wrapping part of the actual present. Many papers cannot be recycled because they contain materials such as glitter, plastic or metal so this technique is a great alternative. What's more, the designs are fun to create and look simple and elegant too. People are being very imaginative, using scarfs, throws and tablecloths to wrap their gifts, which is great because it encourages consumers to recycle old items and looks nice too!”
Catherine Worman will be hosting free craft workshops at the Covent Garden Shop of Delights, as part of Covent Garden’s Christmas Delight.
For more information about furoshiki visit http://www.recyclenow.com/what_can_i_do_today/furoshiki_japanese_w.html
“There has definitely been a rise in the number of people expressing an interest in making their own gifts this year,” explains craft and interiors expert Catherine Worman. “This is something we always notice whenever there is any sort of economic decline. Of course, the ecological element of recycling is also very important as people want to make the most of the fabrics and paper they have acquired throughout the year.
“Nowadays, people are more interested than ever in having a thrifty Christmas,” she continues. “Consumers are attending workshops to learn how to make, bake and sew their own pieces, so they can turn unwanted goods into beautiful one-of-a-kind presents.” And shoppers are not just choosing to make their own cards, but also Christmas wreaths, wall hangings, napkins, rings, candles, decorations, crackers, and tree toppers too! “This is definitely a growing trend,” Catherine continues. “And it is very likely this 'make do and mend' philosophy will continue to stay strong for quite sometime, not only during Christmas but Valentine's Day and Easter too.”
However, DIY gifts and decorations are not the only trends taking the industry by storm. Furoshiki is the latest craze to sweep the nation. It is an ancient Japanese-style of gift wrapping which uses large pieces of cloth to wrap presents, instead of paper. “Lots of people have shown an interest in the furoshiki way of wrapping presents this year,” says Laura Underwood, head of Recycle Now. “It is a great way of reducing waste and makes the gift wrapping part of the actual present. Many papers cannot be recycled because they contain materials such as glitter, plastic or metal so this technique is a great alternative. What's more, the designs are fun to create and look simple and elegant too. People are being very imaginative, using scarfs, throws and tablecloths to wrap their gifts, which is great because it encourages consumers to recycle old items and looks nice too!”
Catherine Worman will be hosting free craft workshops at the Covent Garden Shop of Delights, as part of Covent Garden’s Christmas Delight.
For more information about furoshiki visit http://www.recyclenow.com/what_can_i_do_today/furoshiki_japanese_w.html
