With the UK Pride festival in full swing with events up and down the UK, LGBTQ+ matters are firmly in the media spotlight at the moment, and it’s great to see the greeting card industry doing its bit to promote inclusivity.
Paperchase’s collab with designer, Philip Normal launched in store at the beginning of this week (10 July) in time for Pride celebrations. The limited edition range features crazy multi-coloured faux fur and glitter crossed with saucy slogans and hyper-colour on bags, lunchboxes, waterbottles, stationery, keyrings, iron-on patches and postcards… and lots and lots of fried egg and sausage icons.
For Philip, Paperchase was a perfect choice for the alliance: “Years ago, I joked to my friend I would love to collaborate with Paperchase. I’m obsessed with stationery and Paperchase always stood out for me.”
As well as the new collection, several Paperchase will be hosting face and body glitter parties through July and August in conjunction with In Your Dreams, giving customers the chance to get into the Pride mood.
Moonpig is currently running a design competition asking the public to design a card for its Proud of You range – celebrating inclusivity and any aspect of LGBTQ+ culture that needs a card and doesn’t have one yet. People can upload designs to the Moonpig website, where the public will vote on all the designs with the top three submitted to a panel for final judging. The competition is supported by Above the Stag Theatre, the UK’s award-winning LGBT+ theatre and bar.
Moonpig staff joined in the Pride parade in London on July 7, riding on Above the Stag Theatre’s double decker bus decked out in rainbow balloons, flags and plenty of glitter.
As well as featuring it prominently on its website, Scribbler’s Wardour Street store got into the Pride spirit as well on July 7, with a live DJ, drinks, nibbles and discounts for anyone popping in that day. It is also promoting its LGBTQ cards online too.
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One of Huetribe’s cards celebrating diversity. Tineka Smith, founder of publisher Huetribe, specialising in multiracial and LGBTQ greeting cards was on BBC Radio London last Friday (6 July) talking about the recent rise of hate crime in London. Tineka Smith told host Petrie Hoskin that the nearly 100% rise in attacks over the last four years “shows we are taking a step back.” She cited that LGBTQ friends of hers didn’t want to hold hands in public in fear of provoking an attack. “But there’s been a strong message from authorities that London is very welcoming. London is embracing LGBTQ equality and rights.” Tineka made mention of her company, Huetribe as an example of how greeting cards can help with educating the public about diversity and inclusivity.
