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If you’ve stopped by your local party store or pharmacy recently to get supplies to wrap holiday gifts, you’ve probably noticed a problem: all gift-wrapping products from bags to paper are overwhelmingly white. Santa is white. Baby Jesus is White. The Nutcracker looks like it’s only cracked macadamias. Where’s the diversity? To find it, we looked into Black-owned gift-wrapping companies to support instead of the usual Hallmark aisle offerings.
It’s important for children to see themselves represented in the imagery they take in, and this pertains to everything from the books they read to the shows they watch to the wrapping on their holiday presents. A handful of entrepreneurs noticed the whitewashing of gift wrap products and decided to do something about it. This year, when you’re ready to put that special toy or another present under the tree, consider wrapping it with products from these Black-owned gift-wrapping companies.
UNWRP
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While much of the gift wrapping paper you find in stores this time of year is thin and rips apart when you open presents, UNWRP is doing things differently. Owned by Ashley Fouyelle, UNWRP creates beautiful, heavy-duty wrapping paper that you won’t want to toss out. It can easily be framed or repurposed as artwork because of its elaborate and gorgeous prints. All of UNWRP’s products are made from 30 percent post-consumer materials, are fully recyclable and are carbon-neutral. UNWRP doesn’t just make wrapping paper – they also make greeting cards, cloth wrapping and home goods. Every piece you order will features designs from the dynamic roster of predominantly Black artists creating for UNWRP.
Black Paper Party
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Started by three Black female entrepreneurs, Black Paper Party offers shoppers products that boast “substance and sass” from stunning gift wrap to ornaments and more. With a combined background in brand development, design and visual storytelling, the dynamic trio behind this brand creates truly one-of-a-kind products. Think flirty and playful ornaments, wrapping paper with vibrant images from the African Diaspora and inspired greeting cards.
Blue Jones Co
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Blue Jones makes a variety of paper and wrapping goods dedicated to diversity. Their iconic African American Christmas wrapping paper variety set includes rolls with angels, Santa Claus and Nutcrackers. All characters are represented as Black, making this the perfect set for a household that wants to wrap their children’s presents with paper that they can see themselves represented in. In addition to wrapping paper, Blue Jones Co makes gift stickers, greeting cards and decorative stickers.
Chanell Angeli Studios
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https://www.instagram.com/p/ClQ5YXouZwS/
Chanell Angeli Studios was started by Atlanta-based artist Chanell Angeli. Angeli works with various mediums and materials including sculpture, poetry and photography — and she also lends her stunning creations to gift wrapping paper. The artist’s work is primarily influenced by her heritage as a woman of Caribbean descent. This year, she’s designed a holiday gift wrap with flowers in rich colors surrounded by images of floating babies that emanates abundance and love.
Wrapper’s Delight
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Wrapper’s Delight is a playful line of wrapping paper that’s part of the Wrap Culture brand. It’s a family-owned company that makes an array of holiday products from matching pajama sets for parents and kids to Christmas calendars to greeting cards. Committed to diversity throughout their creations, Wrap Culture’s paper products feature adorable Black ballerinas, Santas and nutcrackers. Wrap Culture brings a Black presence to its gift wrapping and products all year, so check out their page for Halloween, Valentine’s Day and other occasions.
Midnight Reflections
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Midnight Reflections was founded by Lyndsey K. and Motisola Z. when the two were disappointed with the lack of representation of the Black experience in gift-wrapping options. So they decided to start their own company, which they describe as “ethnically conscious” and deliver modern and fun wrapping products. They make a variety of colorful wrapping paper featuring classic holiday images like nativity scenes, angels and Christmas trees, as well as Black-focused tree ornaments, greeting cards, gift tags and gift bags.
Copper & Brass Paper Goods
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The owner of Copper & Brass, Ariel Young, was inspired to start her company by memories of her childhood, when her mom would take incredible care to wrap every gift so beautifully. Young took that attention to detail and a love of design and today she pours it into her products. Her wrapping paper features artistic spins on classic scenes with a focus on Black representation. Her iconic Mommy Kissing Santa gift bags and wrapping paper are not to be missed. Every item from the ornaments to ribbons, are made with quality materials and feature special touches that give them a wow factor.
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