Where Craft Meets Christmas

Behind the scenes with artist Katie Powell

Each year our Christmas windows begin with a simple idea: create something that feels joyful, hand crafted, and unmistakably Sahara. This season that vision came to life through a collaboration between our visual stylist Cerren and paper artist Katie Powell. Their shared starting point was the concept of oversized sculptural bows that would bring a sense of theatre to every boutique window. Metallic gold and silver set the palette from the outset, chosen for their light catching quality and their ability to hold presence both up close and from across the street.

Katie shaped the bows entirely by hand using doubled crepe paper, a material she prefers for its pliability and strength. Working first from reference images provided by Cerren, she created small prototypes to understand the structure in three dimensions. Once the structure was approved, she scaled the design into three larger than life sizes, with the biggest reaching a full metre. She refined each shape through template making, ensuring consistency across the high quantities needed for all stores. Thin brown fishing wire was added with care to give the finished bows the illusion of floating. Katie worked store by store rather than in rigid batches, allowing her to see each full set come together and maintain precision in proportion and form.

Katie’s spectacular paper bows feature alongside Cerren’s wreath work, creating a composed scheme that pairs sculptural shapes with natural texture. The bows hold their structure through the engineered crepe layers and hidden armature, a method that gives them presence without weight. 

The result is a collection of windows defined by scale, craftsmanship, and seasonal light. The gold and silver surfaces reflect softly during the day and glow more intensely as evening falls. Many of our customers will remember Katie’s handmade flowers from the summer windows, and the same attention to detail is evident here. Every cut, fold, and curve has been shaped with intention. These festive bows honour the pleasure of handmade work and celebrate the enduring charm of a display created through patience, skill, and a genuine love of craft.