Part of the magic of packaging is that it doesn’t just hold a product; it also defines how that product is experienced. A single gift box can elevate a brand, reinforce a seasonal theme, and convey luxury long before the contents are revealed. When you multiply that across a full festive collection, the stakes and the opportunities grow even higher.
For ESPA, 2025’s Christmas collection was built on an unusually clear starting point. The client team provided Hunter with a complete set of visuals that defined the direction of the range. As Olivia Moss, Account Manager, explains: “With ESPA, they sent us the visuals and said, ‘This is what we’re looking for.’ And to be honest, the collection has turned out very similar to how they presented it and how they wanted it to be.”
That clarity came with its own pressures. ESPA’s in-house packaging professionals are deeply knowledgeable about materials and finishes, and their briefs are technically driven. “They’ll specify the embossing on a paper or ask about a particular chiselled foil. They know exactly what they want to see, and our role is to bring it to life without compromise,” says Olivia.
The 2025 collection is unified by a deep, regal blue, a deliberate step change from the 2024 range, which was based around festive reds and decorative motifs.
That sense of elevation runs throughout the range. At the heart of the collection is the Advent Calendar – a rigid format wrapped in dyed-to-Pantone® paper with an embossed fine-line texture and chiselled foil numbering – which was approved almost as soon as the first finished samples arrived. Opening its doors reveals twenty-five drawers, each holding a gift designed to harmonise mind, body and soul.
“Usually, we’d start with plain white structural samples, but this year, in a bid to reduce timings, we went straight to printed and finished samples. It meant the client could check not only the cavities and closures, but also the textures and colours from the very start.”
From concept to completion, the Advent Calendar maintained a premium simplicity: embossed textures, chiselled foils, and a consistent logo placement across every gift. Complementing the Advent Calendar, all of the gift packaging employed the same rigid construction and refined finishes, with a subtle book-style twist. Soft-touch velour cosmetic bags for women and textured PU leather washbags for men carry the same attention to detail, elevated with branded zip. The velour Vanity Case created for the ESPA Experience Collection served as another showpiece of the collection, its exterior wrapped in sumptuous materials, lined with satin, and fitted with a mirror and a removable tray to elegantly house multiple gifts. This thoughtful design ensured both beauty and functionality, allowing it to be reused as a storage solution long after the festive season.
While the design language remained faithful to ESPA’s original visuals, the execution required Hunter’s technical problem-solving. One challenge came from the candle gift: raw white ceramic vessels were prone to rubbing colour from the dyed-blue paperboard. “We tried different coatings and eventually agreed to apply lamination only on one side of the insert, to protect both the candle and the board while still maintaining recyclability,” says Olivia.
A second solution came in the form of a pre-folded tracing paper sheet, attached inside the box lid. “When the candle is packed, the sheet is simply laid over the top. It prevents friction, protects the surface, and doesn’t add any plastic.”
Sustainability was non-negotiable throughout. Every insert was made from stacked corrugate with no plastic. Closure mechanisms avoided magnets and ribbons, relying instead on engineered board solutions. Laminations were restricted to a single side where strictly necessary, ensuring that all packaging remained fully recyclable. “It’s something the ESPA team are really clear on – everything has to be recyclable or reusable as a keepsake. So, every detail, every material choice had to be checked against that standard,” adds Olivia.
Beyond the Advent Calendar and Candle Box, the collection extended to soft-touch velour cosmetic bags for women and textured PU leather washbags for men, both elevated with ESPA-branded zip pullers. The range also included retail bags and a series of embossed, foiled FBB cartons, ensuring that even the smallest gifts reflected the collection’s premium aesthetic. Each piece was produced in a deep, rich, regal blue, unifying the range under a coherent and luxurious visual identity.
For Hunter, the ESPA collection demonstrates the strength of long-term collaboration. “We’ve worked with ESPA for a number of years, and that comes with both trust and pressure,” says Olivia. “They know we’ll check every detail before samples even reach them. They know they’ll get a full-service partner – in-house design, in-house development – not just a supplier. But that also means we have to keep raising the bar year after year.”
The 2025 range had its own unique complexities, with around ten different variants spanning rigid boxes, bags, GWPs and FBB cartons. For Hunter, this played to a proven strength. “Other suppliers might excel at a single advent calendar, or a tight five-SKU range. But handling collections at this scale – 15,000 units of one gift, 5,000 of another, all with different structures – is where we thrive. ESPA know we can take that workload on and deliver consistently.”
More than the sum of its parts
The finished ESPA 2025 range is striking in its simplicity: deep, regal blue boards, subtle embossing, chiselled foils, and technically precise board engineering. Each piece reflects ESPA’s rich spa heritage and expertise, capturing the essence of the brand in every sensorial surprise. The collection brings together 25 naturally powerful gifts, offering harmonising treats for mind, body, and soul – from invigorating cleansers and nourishing creams to rich essential oils, blissful aromatherapy, and immersive, clinically proven skincare. ESPA’s spa experience is beautifully captured in packaging for the festive season, delivering inner and outer harmony through a premium, consistent, and luxurious festive experience.
Above all, it reflects the ongoing collaborative relationship between ESPA and Hunter. “We’re always seen as a partner, not just a supplier,” says Olivia. “That’s what sets us apart. We’re not waiting for problems to be spotted – we’re already flagging them, solving them, and finding a better way forward.”
For Hunter, success isn’t just in flawless design – it’s in earning the trust of the world’s most discerning beauty brands, year after year.
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.
Harpenden Hall,
Southdown Road,
Harpenden,
Herts,
UK,
AL5 1TE
