About Paper Starlights™
“Wherever We Are In The World, A Distant Star In The Sky Brings Us Together”
We are wholesalers and retailers, producers, distributors, and decorators, specializing in traditional handmade paper star lanterns that bring warmth, beauty, and meaning to every space.
Together, we’ve been sharing the light since 1996, creating products that celebrate tradition, sustainability, and the magic of human connection.
Meet Pam & Alison – Bringing Artisan Light to the U.S.
We’re Pam and Alison from Spring Lake, Michigan, longtime friends with shared roots in England and a passion for European artistry. Now proud to call West Michigan home, we’ve partnered with our friends at Paper Starlights™ UK to bring traditional European handcrafted gifts to the United States.
Our first year was a glowing success, featuring a classic European-style Christmas market and the launch of our e-commerce store.
Looking ahead, we’re excited to expand into corporate gifting, events, and retail partnerships, sharing the magic of artisan light with more people, spaces, and celebrations across the U.S.
We’d love to hear from you. Get in touch to explore ideas, collaborations, or wholesale opportunities.
Celebrate Every Season with Paper Starlights™
Our handcrafted lanterns come in a wide range of colors and designs. Perfect for decorating all year long, from Valentine’s Day to the Fourth of July, Thanksgiving, Christmas, and everything in between.
Christmas Markets
Born in the heart of German and European Christkindl markets, Paper Starlights™ are now lighting up homes, events, and celebrations across the United States.
Add a Touch of Magic to Every Celebration
Paper Starlights™ bring extra beauty and festive charm to any occasion; from weddings and baby showers to graduation parties, birthdays, and beyond.
Love and Light Since 1996
Where It All Began
The story of Paper Starlights™ began nearly 30 years ago in India, during Diwali – the Festival of Light. Surrounded by glowing paper lanterns hanging in doorways and lighting up community spaces, the founders were captivated by their magical glow, vibrant color, and the way they brought people together.
Inspired by the spirit of joy, hospitality, and celebration that filled the air, they knew they had to share this experience with others. Soon after, they met the young family who handcrafted those very stars, a moment that marked the beginning of a lasting friendship and production partnership that continues to this day.
The very first consignment of star lanterns arrived in the UK in a well-worn aluminum trunk. They debuted at local music festivals, where they were an instant hit. Encouraged by the response, the founders hit the road — traveling across the UK in a beat-up Ford Sierra 1.6 GLX Estate, introducing the stars to indie shops, markets, and communities around the country.
The orders rolled in, and a loyal following quickly grew. It turns out people didn’t just like Paper Starlights™, they loved them.
And nearly three decades later, they still do.
Our World
Trade That Builds, Connects, and Inspires
At Paper Starlights™, we believe trade should improve life and lives. Our model is rooted in share trade, trade that is fair, supportive, and collaborative, because we believe that quality is the natural result of a process built on respect, creativity, and shared purpose.
From production to point of sale, we’re committed to trading decently and transparently, using our work to build community and bring people together.
To us, trade is more than just business, it’s a space for creative dialogue and collective experience. It connects, celebrates, and inspires. It’s a catalyst for positive change, breaking down barriers between generations, cultures, and communities.
Paper Starlights™ has grown through collaboration at every level of the business, exploring sustainable, cooperative ways to trade that are better for everyone involved. We see our supply chain not as a line, but as a creative, interdependent community, one where every hand, voice, and contribution matters.
Fair Trade at the Heart of What We Do
As proud members of BAFTS (British Association of Fair Trade Shops),Paper Starlights™ operates in alignment with the Ten Principles of Fair Trade as set out by the World Fair Trade Organization (WFTO).
For our American customers, BAFTS membership offers the assurance that you're purchasing from a retailer genuinely committed to ethical production, fair wages, and sustainable sourcing, not just in words, but in practice.
Our star lanterns are handmade by a small core team of skilled artisans and printers, working in safe, well-equipped, and welcoming environments. During busy periods, homeworkers from a family housing colony contribute to production, most of them women. Work is arranged with flexibility, allowing schedules to fit comfortably around family life.
Our partnership is based on collaboration, respect, and shared creativity. Together, we develop products in a way that builds local capacity, without creating dependency on the often unpredictable nature of export markets.
We pay in advance for materials and labor to ensure stability, and we work hard to offer pricing that is fair, transparent, and sustainable.
For us, ethical trade isn't just about a single product or practice, it's a mindset that runs through every part of our supply chain. We believe trade can be a creative, collaborative force, one that celebrates human connection, promotes mutual value, and builds something better, together.
