CNY gifting in style

AGILE and yet elegant and calm, the Water Rabbit knows no bounds in its ability to adapt and flow with its wit and disarming charm. We take a look at both refined and adorable interpretations of this year’s Chinese zodiac animal, along with meaningful red packet designs that come with a greater purpose. 

Pull shapes

A vibrant geometric pattern sets a playful tone for Gucci’s special festive capsule collection, where essences of the rabbit are subtly woven into this season’s ready-to-wear and accessories. Cleverly hidden between the cubic prints of this red packet is the letter G, which alternates with a distinctive figure of the long-eared animal in bold and contrasting hues. 

Nature’s splendour

As part of Schroders’ efforts to encourage preservation of the environment and biodiversity, the asset-management company has commissioned a red-packet design featuring a trio of energetic rabbits amid water elements and lush foliage. These are complemented by a rich jade-green inner packet with rolling metallic waves to signify the continuous flow of all good things to come. An accompanying stylish, polyurethane (PU) leather wristlet can also be used to store daily essentials. 

Pocket prosperity  

Specks of gold dust peek out from under the cut-out silhouette on the sleeve of Clarins’ red packet, which pays homage to the Year of the Rabbit in a two-part design. The minimal yet versatile aesthetics of the underlying envelope – with only golden floral embellishments in a homage to spring – means it can be used in any year.  

Blooming delights

Spring into the festivities with a deluge of orchid prints that adorn the Risis red packet, which features a lone white rabbit amid wafts of golden clouds. Auspicious wordings on the face of the packet translate directly to “The jade rabbit welcomes spring”, in a nod to ancient Chinese folklore that tells of a rabbit on the moon: a symbol of healing and longevity.

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Year of transformation

For the first time, Maybank Securities has launched a limited-edition box of red packets with eight rabbit designs that can be further customised with an accompanying sticker sheet of Chinese New Year icons. Gold hot-stamping lends the classic red paper a touch of elegance, and the reverse of each envelope contains a guide for making an origami box.

Festive fun 

Leap into a joyful new year with Shangri-La’s playful red packet design that promises to be a hit by invoking in recipients both a sense of curiosity and child-like wonder. Building on the hotel’s 2022 limited-edition Awaken the Tiger red packet series, a pull-out tab in the form of a carrot similarly “wakes” the rabbit by drawing its eyelids up. 

Gather round 

The National Heritage Board’s Museum Roundtable New Year Hongbao campaign returns this year with 39 designs from Singapore’s various museums, heritage institutions and galleries. Each limited-edition pack of designs contains eight red packets, and is limited to one set per visitor at any participating member of the Museum Roundtable from Jan 6 to Feb 3. The full limited-edition collector’s album is also available in a customised album for S$88 nett, while stocks last. 

Mindful gifting 

Lion Global Investors has collaborated with the Autism Association’s (Singapore) Eden School to feature the works of budding artists on the autism spectrum in support of the development of such talent. The artworks were produced under the school’s Eden Talent Development Programme, which aims to nurture artistic talent among both Eden School’s students and its alumni. Each set of eight packets comes in a reusable vegan PU leather pouch. 

In a nod to building both a sustainable and prosperous future, HSBC is giving out plantable greeting inserts with peppermint seeds in its red packet boxes for its Premier customers. The bank’s red packet design for this year is adorned with its signature orchid and knot icons – which together symbolise HSBC’s shared values and growth in tandem with Singapore.