With Chinese New Year just around the corner, it’s time to get started on the yearly tradition: Packing ang pows, or red packets, for the little ones. While there’re always plenty of ang pows available, many brands and companies are pulling out all the stops to come up with unconventional designs that will capture the hearts of the receiver.
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From charming to posh to super cute, here are 11 that will make yours stand out from the rest of the crowd:
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To impress your relatives, how about going for these super fancy limited edition red packets? The Paper Bunny has teamed up with Singapore Airlines KrisShop to produce exclusive ang pows that look and feel so pretty. Made of luxury fabric paper with gold foil and velvet detail, they sport the Singapore Airlines’ iconic batik.
Where to get it: Available exclusively across all KrisShop channels, both inflight sales and online with minimum nett spend of $180 (while stocks last).
In Chinese culture, a circle is a positive emblem representing ‘complete and fulfilled’. So here, Kapok decided to intertwine both the motif of the pig and the circle to deliver square ang pows with a cute chubby red pig on it. And who doesn’t love a chubby pig? The packets are crafted to fit together too, making a ‘full pig’ across the red packets, or solo with piggy’s face on the front and his curly golden tail on the back. What a clever design!
Where to get it: Kapok is at #01-05 National Design Centre, 111 Middle Road. Available at $6 for a pack of 10 or as gift with purchase of $150 in a single receipt.
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Into your fashion? Instead of traditional CNY icons, Uniqlo’s ang pows have been given a unique twist, and feature clothing and fabric design elements (like zippers). This is to pay homage to their iconic LifeWear. The printed Chinese phrase 优衣丰格 at the front of the packet translates to style, abundance and quality clothes — a reference to the brand’s premium quality clothes and the variety of styles available this lunar festive period. On the back? An origami design, showcasing UNIQLO’s identity and heritage as a Japanese company. We love.
Where to get it: UNIQLO will be distributing them in all stores from Jan 21 onwards, with no minimum spend required. While stocks last.
This year, Food Republic has teamed up with special-needs artisans from Personalisedlove.com to design a classic, Oriental Fabric Ang Pao Pouch. These are a fantastic take on the CNY tradition — to gift to your loved ones, or to store all your red packets in. So not only are you supporting a good cause, you’ve got something that lasts too. They also make a great clutch for any CNY outfit, so it’s a triple win.
Where to get it: Spend a minimum of $10 on food with a maximum of two combined same-day receipts and purchase any two Pokka drinks in a single receipt. Redemption can be made at all Food Republic and Food Opera outlet(s) at their hot and cold drinks stall (while stocks last).
These exquisite “red” packets depicting a lush bamboo forest look more like artwork instead. Let’s be honest – you’ll probably want to keep one or two of these limited edition pieces for yourself. It’s printed with gold foil on extra thick card stock so your loved ones know it’s not your run-of-the-mill ang pow.
Where to get it: Available online, at $9.90 for a pack of eight envelopes (while stocks last).
As part of their New Year sales to help you spruce up your home, Courts has come up with lots of limited edition festive freebies to entice shoppers, including this colourful and adorable pig-themed red packet designs.
Where to get it: A pack of eight cute ang pows are available at all Courts stores with a minimum spend of $68 (while stocks last). Until Feb 24.
Crafted from environmentally-friendly paper, these cute packets from DBS Bank take inspiration from elements of earth and nature, including wood, flowers and forests. The packets come in vibrant and eye-catching hues of yellow and blue, with the traditional touch of a gold overlay. Not to mention the bank’s adorable children mascots Xing and Jaan, which lend themselves perfectly to CNY.
Where to get it: Customers collecting and withdrawing new or good-as-new notes at all DBS/POSB branches or new notes pop-up ATMs will receive two sets of DBS or POSB red packets.
For a cheeky take on traditional red packets, Singlish Mamashop has come up with these HuatAllready Singlish ang pows. With the inner side also printed, these red packets will appeal to all millennials wanting to add some humour to the festivities. Not a single pig motif, Chinese sign or gold embroidery in sight.
Where to get it: You can get three large ang baos for $7 from Naiise.
For some mischief, why not get Tuber Production’s Bao Ga Liao red packets — or should we say yellow packets? The inspiration — the cat. Why? Apparently it is sad, because there’s no place for it on the zodiac. So, they’ve found a spot for it, right on the front of the ang pows. Hilarious! The great thing about these packets is that you can use them no matter which animal reigns that year. There’s also a bonus one for situations when you’ve met a child you don’t know. Awkward no more!
Where to get it: $6.80 for five pieces, purchase online via Naiise.com.
Out of the bunch, these are the more traditional looking red packets, sporting the iconic lion head and Chinese lantern motifs, along with bamboo stalks. But English words like “Happiness”, “Health” and “Undisputed King Of Trainers” add a quirky, contemporary twist to this ang pow. Suitable for both young and old!
Where to get it: Five packets are complimentary with every $150 spent in one transaction in stores (while stocks last).
With the brand’s signature sophistication, fashion label Love, Bonito’s red packets this year offer a choice of three colours and designs. One is pretty classic with red and gold, but the other two deliver a feminine delicate colour palette of pastel pink with splashes of blue and green. The print is actually taken from the Festive Collection dress designs, so if you turn up to see your relatives in a matching dress, you’ll look like you’ve totally got your entire life sorted.
Where to get it: For online, available with any purchase until Jan 23. In store, customers will receive red packets with any purchase while stocks last.
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Text: Nicola Watson
This post was updated for accuracy on Jan 23, 2019.