Caroline Gardner Undresses Its Cards And Commits To Fashion

Caroline Gardner is to moving towards ‘naked’ cards by using an InFold, invented by the company, that holds the card and envelope together while protecting the corner. The branded paper InFold is affixed to the envelope using a plastic-free peelable label.

The InFold design, for which the publisher has applied for a patent on, also provides the opportunity for the company’s branding.

“We feel strongly about reducing the amount of single use cellobags and so set about creating a way of keeping the envelope with the card,” explained Luca Bridges, marketing and independent sales manager of Caroline Gardner.

“We also envisage that consumers will pick the card up using the InFold thereby minimising any damage to the card,” added Carolyn Verderame, the company’s head of sales.

Having showcased at this week’s Harrogate Home and Gift show, the first Caroline Gardner cards presented using the InFold will be its October release, which will comprise some 30-40 designs.

“We will then begin a transition across all our ranges,” confirms Carolyn.

Above: Caroline Gardner has a patent pending for its corner ‘tab’ that keeps the card attached to the envelope by a plastic-free peelable label. — **Above:** Caroline Gardner has a patent pending for its corner ‘tab’ that keeps the card attached to the envelope by a plastic-free peelable label.

Above: Carolyn Verderame, Caroline Gardner’s head of sales and Luca Bridges, marketing and independent sales manager hold two designs that will trailblaze the new approach. — **Above:** Carolyn Verderame, Caroline Gardner’s head of sales and Luca Bridges, marketing and independent sales manager hold two designs that will trailblaze the new approach.

Fashion forward thinking

While its stand at Harrogate Home and Gift show fanfared the Caroline Gardner’s latest diversification into fashion accessories under its own brand – with a range of on-trend hairbands and hairclips joining its growing bag collection, the company has strengthened its support for talented young fashion designers through a tie up with Graduate Fashion Week.

For the third year in a row Caroline Gardner is showcasing two fashion graduates collections in the window of its Marylebone High Street shop. The two graduates’ work – Adeola Elugbadebo-Solomons from University for the Creative Arts, Rochester and April Unsworth from University of Central Lancashire – were selected at Graduate Fashion Week. Their collections will be on display in the shop window (17 Marylebone High Street) until 1 August 2019.

Above: This is the third year running that Caroline Gardner has forged links with Graduate Fashion Week. — **Above:** This is the third year running that Caroline Gardner has forged links with Graduate Fashion Week.

Above: Adeola Elugbadebo-Solomons’ Threads of Culture collection explores the subversion of British colonial history in Nigeria, during the Edwardian period 1900 - 1914, through the eyes of a dual-heritage woman. — **Above:** Adeola Elugbadebo-Solomons’ Threads of Culture collection explores the subversion of British colonial history in Nigeria, during the Edwardian period 1900 – 1914, through the eyes of a dual-heritage woman.

Above: April Unsworth’s collection was inspired by antique ceramics and tapestries. — **Above:** April Unsworth’s collection was inspired by antique ceramics and tapestries.

Top: Caroline Gardner’s Luca Bridges (left) and Carolyn Verderame modelling some of the new hair accessories and bags on the stand at Harrogate Home and Gift.

TAGS Adeola Elugbadebo-Solomons, April Unsworth, caroline gardner, Carolyn Verderame, graduate fashion week, Harrogate Home and Gift, luca bridges