The long-standing partnership between Hunter Luxury and Charlotte Tilbury can be summed up in a single word: Trust.
That trust has been earned over the course of several years of successful projects, ranging from advent calendars to discovery sets and vanity cases, that blur the lines between packaging, art, and accessory. The latest success story of this productive relationship is actually two separate projects: A daring reimagining of Charlotte Tilbury’s iconic Pillow Talk range with a showstopping nude pink vanity case, and a matching pair of crimson velour mini brush and lipstick cases.
The nature of our relationship with Charlotte Tilbury means that projects can progress smoothly from concept to delivery, with processes built up and refined each time to ensure that any successes are retained and replicated across projects. This means the story of 2025’s Christmas collection, Charlotte’s Magic Gifting Universe, begins in 2024, at one of our annual Inspiration Days.
“We like to work well over a year ahead,” explains Carrie Piggott, Account Manager – Luxury Beauty Packaging. “So, in January, we go to their offices and hold an Inspiration Day, where our Product Inspiration Manager, Mandy and designer Karina take ideas, materials, samples, and so on – things that we think would work for them for their next festive project.” The rolling nature of this process means that each project can hit the ground running. The ideas presented are based on our in-depth knowledge of the customer’s preferences and identity, rather than simple guesswork, making this process much more useful and productive.
“They then do their own inspiration session with their design team, which is guided by Charlotte [Tilbury, the company founder and legendary make-up artist] herself,” continues Piggott. “Afterwards, they come back to us with feedback that enables us to produce some initial samples that we present at a follow-up session.
“From there, we move to more detailed samples. This whole process takes several months.” One of the main benefits of a business relationship built on trust is the focus that it brings to the creative process. Both parties know one another, and that understanding creates a strong foundation for the production process to be built on.
“In previous years, we’ve worked on a number of signature products with Charlotte Tilbury,” adds Piggott. “So we understand what they need. They’ve always said we ‘get’ their brand, and that relationship has been invaluable given the premium nature of this line. The team there rightly expects a lot, and they have a real attention to detail, because this is their flagship product. It retails for over £300, so that sense of security is important for them.”
These sturdy creative foundations mean the production process can proceed smoothly on every project. Piggott says the two-way, highly collaborative process ensured the process ran smoothly. “We worked really closely with the Charlotte Tilbury design team,” she says. “For example, when we were putting the detail on the velour or positioning the logo, we would make recommendations to them, and they would come back to us. We worked in sync.”
This kind of efficiency is particularly important when working with seasonal products, which have to make a big impact in a relatively short sales window to maximise their profit margins.
“I visited the factory with our contact at Charlotte Tilbury and got to watch the products being made,” says Piggott. “The attention to detail is exceptional. From the latch fitting to the embossed logo, all the products relied heavily on handmade elements. Attention to detail is a trait both our companies share, which means every element is crafted to meet the highest standards.”
The results speak for themselves. The latest velour Pillow Talk vanity case showcases Hunter Luxury’s excellent understanding of the beloved cosmetics brand. The stunning nude pink case, which is complete with padding and pleating detail to the lid on a greyboard frame, features rose gold colouring on its foil logo and handle stays, clasp and debossed diamond lozenge, and branded monogram on the front of the lid. The interior is completed with a mirror and a covered satin border to echo the sophisticated style of the brand, while also offering value as a keepsake long after its contents are gone.
Part of Charlotte Tilbury’s Magic Gifting Universe collection is a duo of enchanting mini brush and lipstick cases. One is a plush crimson velvet mini brush case with front and back panel pleating and a velvet wrist strap, complete with a mirror on the inside of the lid. The second takes the playful shape of a pair of lips, zipped shut with a rose gold zip and puller. Both are finished with a satin polyester interior and the iconic CT logo in gleaming rose gold plating.
When the three products hit shelves this September, it will be just the latest chapter in a years-long story. With work already well underway on future festive releases, the robust, collaborative creative process is already bearing fruit. That process is not only made possible by the trusting relationship built by Hunter Luxury’s team of experts, it is enhanced.
“When it comes to Christmas launches, brands need assurance that the packaging company they partner with can deliver a dependable experience for their customers,” concludes Piggott. “For Charlotte Tilbury, they can count on us to meet and go beyond their expectations year-on-year, and our long-standing relationship is a testament to this.”
Our team of packaging experts works with the world’s largest brands. Drop us a line at info@hunterluxury.com, we’d love to talk through your project brief with you.
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