Greetings from Matt Blease and Wrap magazine
Matt Blease has just created a series of greetings cards for Wrap magazine. Wrap magazine is produced twice a year by Chris and Polly Harrison. The magazine acts as a showcase for their range of greetings cards and stationery, created in collaboration with some of the world’s most talented contemporary illustrators. Their stationery is sold in over 300 shops worldwide, including Tate Modern, the Barbican, Selfridges, Liberty, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, MoMO PS1 in New York, Oliver Bonas UK-wide, as well as many independent book and design shops around the world, and on their site at wrapmagazineshop.com
Through their hard work, Chris and Polly have built Wrap into a very successful small business. And it’s still growing, with all of its products made in the UK, printed by letterpress using only the finest materials, and with full consideration for the environment.
We spoke to Matt about his collaboration with Wrap, and whether greetings cards are a new direction for him.
Is this the first time you’ve created greetings cards?
Yes, well in an official way, anyway. I’ve been known to knock up the odd last minute card from time to time.
Did you find it a challenge?
No, it was really fun project. The hard part was trying to whittle it down.
Is it something you’re going to continue with?
Let’s see how they go down first!
How did the collaboration come about?
Ah, yes! This is a really funny story actually. They emailed and I said “Okay”.
How much say did you have in the materials and processes used?
Right from the start I knew that the finished cards would be single colour and letter-pressed. So it was quite nice to have some tight perimeters.
Will the cards be available to buy?
They should be up on The Wrap’s site by late January, I understand.
Were you already aware of Wrap magazine?
Of course! I’m a big fan of their output.
Have you bought any of their cards or wrapping paper in the past?
I have. They are one of the few people that do the card/wrapping paper game well. They have a certain vibe that somehow keeps things from ever feeling naff.