Signed, Sealed, Delivered

When compared to email, snail mail is indeed slower and often less reliable, but we believe the pay-off may be worth it. There’s something about prying open a package that was sealed just for us, or reading a note that wasn’t sent by the bank, that gives us a boost. And since we are sadly too old to pass meticulously folded notes with our best friend in high school French class (no wonder we could never master those verbs), we get a thrill whenever we receive anything handwritten in the mail amongst the piles of cable bills and catalogs. Ironically, it seems that the more tech-forward we become, the cooler stationery gets. For those suffering from inbox fatigue, or just looking for some fun surprises in their mailboxes, the old-fashioned postal service has become the impetus behind a number of creative endeavors.

The Package Project: If the stats in the most recent State of the Internet viral video are accurate, there are 126 million blogs online today. That’s a lot of creative people putting in a lot of screen time. Looking to connect the online community in a more personal way, The Package Project is pairing up bloggers (and e-shop vendors) to exchange handmade parcels – the more imaginatively bedecked the better. Packages can contain anything from trinkets representing the sender’s hometown or country to handcrafted gifts or art supplies. The project was dreamed up by Cupcake Couture blogger Nadia, who has already selected the first round of participants for her tactile connection experiment. We’re pretty sure that memories of even our most sugar-loaded camp care packages will pale in comparison.

Postcarden: UK-based Postcarden is the letter that keeps on giving: The stationery transforms from a regular piece of mail to a mini-garden in a few simple steps. A Studio for Design, the makers of Postcarden, say they were looking for a way to make regular mail more surprising and the pleasure of receiving a personal note last beyond the initial tear of the envelope. After a “carden” is opened, it can be unfolded into a miniature 3D cityscape, garden shed or Victorian botanical garden, strewn with cress seeds (included) and some water, and placed in a bright spot for a spot of indoor green within just a few days. (It’s perhaps the perfect shelf accessory for those riding the miniature trend.) Seems like the UK is having a mini-garden moment, but, happily, Postcardens are now available for stationery fiends in the US as well.

Clothing For Correspondence: Though we sing the praises of letter writing at a level not heard since The Marvelettes, we know that it’s a craft that doesn’t come easily for many. For those who just can’t seem to put quill to paper, Clothing For Correspondence is here to help. In exchange for articles of clothing (they’ll tell you what they like), these clever ladies who hate shopping but love writing letters will pen just about any kind of dispatch you need. With a few instructions, they can produce anything from a warning about your ex to present to their next fling to a note to your future self giving some sage advice, or lists on pretty much any topic imaginable. If you don’t happen to have a stash of clothes to send them but desperately need someone to write a love letter to your local butcher for you, don’t worry, they’ll work for cash too. * References to products and services in trendcentral do not imply our endorsement, but rather are intended to provide objective insights into emerging trends and examples of those trends. trendcentral is published by The Intelligence Group, a trend research and consumer insights company focusing on youth culture. For more information on our services, or to subscribe to our syndicated Cassandra Report studies, please contact Noelle Weaver at 212-277-5244 or via email at nweaver@intelg.com.