Positive messaging
Christmas 2010 sees a revival in ornamental lettering, offering positive festive messages for the home. It is a trend for more bold, expressive and design-led ways of expressing traditional messages such as ‘Merry Christmas’, ‘Noel’, ‘Hope’, ‘Joy’ and ‘Peace’ as well as lengthier greetings such as ‘We Wish You a Merry Christmas’.  These messages are translated into a variety of designs from traditional nursery-style singular letters in classic Serif fonts, which combine to create different messages, to complete expressions in scripts, cartoon-style and retro fonts. The products have a sense of nostalgic fun and colours remain traditional: gold, white and silver are particularly popular. Materials include acrylic, glass, metal and metal-effect. Patterns are popular in the acrylic designs, providing depth and detail, whilst metallic and glitter finishes are also key. Salco showed a variety of designs.

Glitter all the way
Whilst it has always been a popular finish, Glitter becomes even more dominant through 2010 festive gifts and décor. It is used as detail on wreaths, ornamental dried plants and artificial floral arrangements, as well as on gifts and ornaments such as figurines, decorative miniature trees, and tree decorations. Christmas and floral importer Sincere UK Ltd featured a number of glitter-finished floral products, whilst Zemlin and Giftware Trading also showcased designs with added sparkle. Glitter-effect products are seen in many colours from the traditional red and gold to more trend-focused vibrant pinks, yellows, blues and purples. It is used with dual purpose; some designs are given a contemporary edge whilst others feature a more fantasy-based frosting. This also combines with an increased focus on fantasy figurines and child-oriented products.

A fantasy-filled Christmas
A big trend is for decorations and gifts that focus on babies and young children. ‘Babies first Christmas’ is a key story that was displayed across many collections and offers great gifting opportunities for friends, relatives, parents and grandparents. Colours are baby blue, pale pink and white for baby-specific designs, and are used across baubles, key rings with added photo features. Popular motifs are centred on the nursery and include teddy bears, hearts, bows, stars and rocking horses. Weiste was one exhibitor that featured this trend heavily as well as Widmanns.

For those targeted at young children, girls in particular, pastel candy shades of lilac, green, yellow, blue and pink are key. These are importantly also key shades for Spring/Summer 2010 adult fashion collections. Themes focus on fantasy and fairytale, and are increasingly trans-seasonal with some also working as part of Easter décor ranges. Fairies, gnomes and elves are teamed with forest-related imagery such as toadstools, enchanted trees, leaves and snowflakes. With this year’s film remake of Alice in Wonderland, the trend for nostalgic childhood fantasy will remain strong for both children and parents buying for children. Fantasy-based designs extended to those for adults with a number of ranges incorporating angels and fairies as well as Father Christmas with more elfin features and in different colourways. Ornamental festive dolls and figurines in a variety of sizes were everywhere at the show, ranging from Victorian children and nativities to the aforementioned angels and fairies. Fairfull and Widmanns picked up on this in their collections.

Key colours
As well as the classic colours there are a few more trend-led shades of yellow, hot pink and purple. These shades are incorporated into fun collections designed to appeal to a younger consumer that has recently set up house and is looking to define their own Christmas themes away from the more traditional décor that their parents may have opted for. Apple green is also an important shade and is used in designs that take inspiration from the garden. White is a dominant colour and was seen in volume across many of the stands. Whilst it is a colour regularly used in festive decorations and often teamed with red and green, this trend sees it take pride of place and often used as the only colour or teamed with pale silver and gold. Appropriately inspired by snow and winter landscapes, pieces are frosted and elegant. White trees, churches and snow-covered houses are teamed with ice skates, icicles and snow globes. Doves and reindeer are featured as well as classic icons such as stars, snowflakes, bells and snowmen. Exhibitors include Zemlin and Fairfull.