The global authority for luxury packaging, Formes de Luxe is a quarterly magazine featuring insights and analyses on the latest luxury industry news. Its March 2025 issue is devoted to holistic beauty, an all-encompassing approach to healthy bodies and minds and a key trend in the premium cosmetics, drinks and pharmaceutical markets.  

To illustrate the concept of holistic beauty, the cover of the magazine consists of Unifoil’s Unilustre silver maze diamond lens effect, whose smashed diamonds and multi-dimensional lenses produce a striking visual impact. Created by Unifoil’s unique metallization transfer process called Unilustre onto Invercote Creato paperboard from Holmen, the cover showcases new Unilustre surface designs, coating and metallizing technology.

Surface trends

“We identify design surface trends each year,” says David Peters, Global Product Development Director, Unifoil. “And one of the key trend drivers for 2026 is called Chrysalis, which is all about the dynamics of attracting, absorbing and reflecting light. We are trying to inspire design linked to our new innovations, and that was the catalyst for the journey to create the cover for Formes de Luxe, in conjunction with our new silver maze lens launch.”

Metallizing technology

For over 50 years, US based Unifoil has been a global leader in customised metallizing technology. Its new silver maze diamond lens is part of the company’s Unilustre substrate portfolio, which was pioneered 30 years ago by the company’s CEO Joe Funicelli. Available in silver, custom holographic patterns and lens, Unilustre delivers the visual impact of foil and film laminates without the environmental challenges. It is non-laminated, plastic-free, solvent-free and fully recyclable and fully repulpable.

Plastic-free

“Inspiring sustainability is very important to us,” says Funicelli. “And Unilutsre gives companies the option to have a plastic-free surface. The whole point of Unilustre in fact is that you can achieve intense reflective and metallic qualities and be fully recyclable and fully repulpable at the same time.”

Fully recyclable and repulpable

The Unifoil metallization transfer process involves transferring or embossing the design onto the board via a plastic release lacquer, which is then removed and recycled. “The amount of ink or metal that is actually transferred is immeasurable,” says Funicelli. “Depending on the design, it's much less than with printed metallics, hot foil stamps or cold foils, which is why it's fully recyclable and fully repulpable. And while our process is not new, our R&D team have perfected the technique over the years and been able to add new effects and designs like the silver maze diamond lens.”

A perfect marriage

For the Formes de Luxe cover, as well as the crushed diamond lens effect, a four-leaf logo element was also applied. “It's a very complex piece of work,” says Peters. “And this is where Invercote Creato comes in. Our metallization transfer process requires the ideal surface, and so the bonding strengths of Holmen’s fibres, which can take the fast print and production speed, are vital. You could say it is the perfect marriage between a paperboard and substrate.”

Choosing Invercote

Peters has worked with Holmen many times over the years and so when a quick turnaround was needed for the Formes de Luxe cover, he knew where to turn. “Invercote is a great surface for our metallization transfer. We have used it many times before and trust it and knew it would be perfect for this project. As well as the bonding properties, we also wanted to use Invercote because we were targeting the luxury market, and so the pure whiteness of Invercote Creato was important for a luxury visual appeal.”

In great demand

The print run for Formes de Luxe is 10,000. It has also been entered for several awards and will be available at the Luxe Pack events in New York in May 2025.

“The magazine is in great demand,” says Peters. “It has been great for us to showcase our latest Unilustre pattern releases along with Holmen’s board. The cover shows the importance of solid white areas for elements like barcodes, and it demonstrates how you can be innovative and experiment with materials. The application of printed solid colours, tints and effects clearly presents how a product can be elevated and customised to suit the luxury category and market trends. And it provides designers, when selecting a finish or a paperboard, an actual piece of printed reference.”