Gift wrap is one of the most quintessential symbols of the festive season, with countless people around the world ritualistically presenting their gifts to others in a decorative sheet of paper. And this year, Le Creuset quite literally has Christmas all wrapped up!
The purchase of a Le Creuset product now comes with the option of having it beautifully packaged (for free!) in our stylish new gift wrap. Featuring our iconic products and Flame colour, the fun and quirky design – suitable for any occasion – adds an extra dollop of visual appeal, making your treat look twice as sweet!
Ryan Botha, the creative genius behind our new gift wrap, is the owner of aLoveSupreme, a Cape Town-based brand which produces an imaginative range of stationery with stylised illustrations.
We caught up Ryan to find out more.
Tell us more about aLoveSupreme.
The full story started around 3 years ago. After many years of running The Fire Room (my graphic design agency) I had personally become exhausted, leading to burnout and eventually depression. I needed to make a change. The one struggle I had with graphic design in general was a real lack of fulfilment and there was very little validation. In seeking a way to express myself in a new context and platform I stumbled across a quote from John Coltrane’s liner notes off an album called ‘A Love Supreme’, which I found very inspiring.
The religious context of this quote profoundly impacted me and I felt the same inspiration could be applied through my design work, so the aLoveSupreme brand became the way forward – an opportunity to create beautiful things that make me happy, make other people happy, but ultimately as an expression of my faith!
We booked a stand at Design Indaba 2014 and today we have a flourishing retail brand creating wonderful stationary, homeware products and other exciting pieces.
Where did your love for graphic design come from?
Honestly, I kind of just stumbled into it. At school the only subject I really excelled in was Art, so it was natural to pursue something creative. Graphic design seemed like the most natural fit. The turning point was living in London. It is an inspiring city. It’s a creative hub exposing you to so many influences globally.
How did you draw inspiration for the design of Le Creuset’s new gift wrap?
aLoveSupreme has a very distinct ‘handwriting’ – a look and feel that has become recognisable in its very short lifespan. So I felt that to simply focus on some of the iconic products of the Le Creuset range and interpret them with our handwriting was a fun and natural direction to go. A simple step and repeat pattern with the globally recognisable Le Creuset orange sealed the deal.
Did you encounter any challenges with the design?
Not really. I presented the concepts to Jamie (Brand Manager at Le Creuset) and I was expecting a host of changes, but she loved it as is!
Which of the two gift wrap variations is your personal favourite?
They both work well. There is natural attraction to the orange version, but I feel like both need each other. If you wrapped everything in the orange version then it would be too much. Mixing the two variations adds some breathing space and dovetails brilliantly.
What do you like best about Le Creuset?
All the vibrant colours across the range.
What is your Le Creuset colour combination?
Caribbean Blue and Flame together!
Which Le Creuset gift would you most like to find wrapped up underneath the Christmas tree?
A set of Espresso Mugs in a mix of colours.
What is your favourite go-to gift from Le Creuset?
The classic Whistling Teakettle.
The best thing about Christmas is?
Forced retail therapy, and holidays…
For more about Ryan and aLoveSupreme, visit his website.
Visit your nearest Boutique Store to experience a magical Christmas with Le Creuset. View our brand new Christmas promotions, with gifting ideas for all price points here.
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