The Art Of An Invite
12 Apr
It could well be said that the very first impression of a wedding is the wedding invite. An industry leader, Sunflower Paper Passion & Things was the first to produce and market double festivity cards in Asia. The innovation did not stop there though; they were also the first to come up with a line of Braille greeting cards for those who do not have the gift of sight. From the classic to the modern, Sunflower has an array of styles to choose from. We speak to founder, Jeffri Lim, on his vision and passion for the business.
The intricate and precise detailing of Sunflower's Lasercut Cards
What are some of your most creative cards you’ve designed?
Jeffri Lim: I clearly remember some of our favourites. We did a really extraordinary invitation for a multimillion ringgit wedding. The material was acrylic for the main invite and polypropylene was used for the very formal black-tie party. As for the soiree, Japanese pearlised paper was used for the envelopes. It was really tough as we were working with these materials for the first time. The end result was classy, elegant and unique.
The second one has to be the laser die cut card, Africa. Conceptualizing it was a major hurdle but in the end, we decided to make it mysterious and sensuous. Black was the original colour but we also created a bronze version. The ultra modern and vibrant ‘Save the date’ cards had exciting colours to match the uniqueness of the designs. The designs were spacious, clean, and exciting fusion. The design transcends culture and religion and is a definite hit amongst modern couples.
Every bride has a different budget to fulfill, would you say that Sunflower can cater to all budgets and if so, how?
Jeffri Lim: We have many grades of wedding invites to cater to those with varied budgets but no, we don’t cut corners just to meet your budget. We take great pride in the quality of our products. We would never compromise on paper quality and shoddy workmanship to justify a cheaper product. We also try to incorporate the less is more concept to ensure you will get an elegant card at a much reduced price. Sunflower buys its material in big volumes and as such, receives major price discounts and offers which will be passed on to our customers, especially through our more economical cards.
Go Green with Sunflower Paper Passion & Things!
Some of our readers are avid recyclers, and we hear that you have a range of ‘Go Green Cards’. Do tell.
Jeffri Lim: We created them recently as we want to promote the idea of recycling, reusing and reducing. We also wanted to prove to our customers that we can still give them great products using recycled items and at the same time, save the environment together. We are a staunch believer of leadership by example. Sunflower also collects old greeting cards from offices for recycling.
You went from being a pharmacist with a Fortune 500 company to following your passion for art and starting Sunflower International. Given it is quite a niche, why wedding invites?
Jeffri Lim: Wedding invites was a spin off from our greeting card business. Even though it’s not as lucrative as the greeting card business but if you are passionate about art and design, you will enjoy it. It’s a nice feeling to be able to take the first step together with the wedding couples who come to us. They are always so full of positive energy, hope, and joy. You can’t help but cherish the trust and friendships built through this process of making the most important card of their lives. And they return many years after, celebrating their anniversaries, birth announcements of their newborns, and their parents’ birthdays with us. It’s as if we have become a part of their families. (more…)
