Sustainability is also an important consideration when it comes to the design, and this year’s windows are no exception. “We’re trying to use natural or recyclable materials where we can,” explains Sydney Cunningham, the team’s Creative Producer. “We used wood and felt balls for the cranberries, and we used a bioresin for the clementines. We also worked with two amazing tufting artists to create the giant panettone. So we’ve got a basket weaver who’s weaving the whole structure out of willow and then the artist is tufting wool straight onto those panels. For the ‘Game-Changing Cheese Board’ window, those pieces are all covered in wax, and the tiramisu stack uses rubber, natural sponges and cork, leaving them untreated where we can.
“We try to think about the afterlife, so where we can repurpose things. A lot of stuff that comes out of the windows gets reused. At Christmas, when we’re making loads of snowballs, you know that those things will be used again in the future. We’re also hoping to collaborate with some charities and pass some things on to them. We always think about using natural materials and eco-materials and the process, but also where things end up.”