Trend Alert: The Mock Sardine Can Follies
You’ve no doubt noted the culinary renaissance in tinned fish. Concurrent with that, we’ve seen some of the best packaging designs of the last two centurines on sardine cans and loved charting a related decorating trend: see 17 Times Fish Made an Appearance Beyond the Plate and The Fish Trend Continues: 15 (More) Favorite Finds.
Unexpectedly, sardine cans themselves are currently having a moment—as novelty containers for all sorts of things, none of them packed in oil or even fishy. Here, 8 playful and even useful favorites.
Above: Six fishbone-shaped stainless steel appetizer picks are packed in the Balvi Sardines Snack Forks Set; $22 from Charles and Marie,
Above: British studio Block Design of Cornwall offers a line of novelty Tinned Goods, from candles to playing cards, that just made debuted in the US at Shoppe Object trade show in NYC. All come in bright, geometrically patterned reusable cans, including this five-piece mini Tool Kit, $22, from Joy gift shop in Austin, Texas.
Above: St. Louis designer/woodworker Collin Garrity and his creative team whitttle Wooden Sardine Tin Sets, $32, out of cherry and walnut.
Above: From Spanish brand To: From:, a handmade-in-Barcelona, tin-plated steel Refillable Sardine Matchbox, €5.90.
Above: The Tinned Goods Sewing Kit, another Block Design, is $21 at the MoMA Design Store. The idea of tinning unexpected but useful items in well-designed packages was conceived by a member of the studio during a trip to Portugal.
Above: A brass Pocket Fish Knife on a key chain ring is $27.75 from Styled Abode.
Above: The magnet holds sewing needles in place in this Needle Case from Etsy seller Smut and Bravo; $23.99.
Above: Designer Mackenzie Becker’s MackBecks is another line of playful accessories that come in tins. Sardine Hair Clips —”two snackable sardines for your hair, not your pantry”—are a new item currently available for pre-order; $28.
Here are some other surprise design trends:
