For a brand that invents their own language, music and story, and makes their own fabric, patterns and technology, no ordinary business card will do.

The idea: what if we made cards that weren’t just paper, but rather artifacts from Cirque du Soleil shows? We created Costume Cards – handcrafted paper made from actual costumes. We transformed simple business cards into something that once hung from a trapeze! Or breathed fire from inside the wheel of death! Each card has visible pieces of lace, lamé and leather.

This idea not only brings to life Cirque du Soleil’s brand essence, but also nods to their conservation philosophy. They built their Headquarters on a landfill, transforming a wasteland into something new. They collect rainwater to flush the toilets in their building. And now, they have a way to take old costumes and transform them into something entirely new.

Using retired show costumes, we created handcrafted paper for these Cirque du Soleil business cards. Each card has visible pieces of lace, lamé and leather.

We designed 4 different layouts, each with a headline indicative of the role that costume plays in its specific show. The headlines quickly convey that these are no ordinary business cards.

To create these cards the costumes were first shredded, then added to 100% recycled fibers to create the pulp. They were then hand sifted and molded into 19” x 25” sheets. After drying for 4 days, the sheets were then printed and letter pressed by hand and finally trimmed to create the final product.

Cirque du Soleil employees receive a mix of all four layouts in each new order of cards.

These new, truly unique business cards have generated excitement and helped to inspire internal staff to champion the brand in new ways.

These cards also leave key business contacts with a crafted and memorable Cirque du Soleil creation, a lasting positive impression of the brand, and an actual piece of a Cirque du Soleil show.