More Than Just a Card: A Conversation Around How We Show Up for One Another with Rich Girl Paper
- ttc ldn
- May 27
- 4 min read
Showing up isn't the same anymore mehn. Talking with the founders of Rich Girl Paper, Leona and Ify, we realised that for many of us living away from home, staying connected to family and friends looks very different now. Think about it, remember the ease of being physically present? Walking round the estate and seeing friends or cousins often, dropping in and sharing everyday moments. Instead, closeness becomes something way more intentional. It lives in the check ins, voice notes, small but impactful gestures that remind people that they are still part of your life.
Distance means something different too. Of course, there’s the obvious distance - the ocean between you and home, and everything familiar. But even when friends and family live in the same city abroad, there’s also a quieter kind of distance: the space that builds between people navigating the same experience of being international, where life and logistics slowly replace the warmth of spontaneity (our favourite dating app buzzword).
In that context, showing up starts to look different. It becomes less about proximity and more about intention.
So with Rich Girl Paper, we’ve been thinking about the ways we express care - how we reach for each other, how we make people feel seen, and what it means to send something that actually represents you.
Founder Perspective: Intention, Community & Why the UK?
Do you find yourself being more intentional about how you show up for friends now than you might have been before?
Ify: Oh, 100%! When you can’t just "pop over" to hang out, you have to get creative with the emotional labour. It’s not just about convenience anymore; it’s about making sure they feel seen even if I’m 3,000 miles away. You have to be the friend who remembers the "boring" stuff, the big meeting, the terrible date, the weirdly specific Tuesday drama.
What makes a small gesture feel genuinely meaningful when you’re not always physically around each other?
Leona: Specificity is the ultimate love language. A gift that screams "only you would get this" is worth ten generic hampers. It’s that feeling of: I didn’t just buy a thing; I bought a thing that proves I actually listen when you talk and I know you. That’s the sweet spot where a gesture actually lands instead of just taking up space.
Have you found that the usual options don’t quite capture your tone, humour or way of expressing things?
Ify: ALL the time. Most cards out there feel like they were written by a committee of people who have never had a laugh in their lives. They’re either too "Live, Laugh, Love" or just... dead. There’s usually a massive gap between what I want to say, which is usually a mix of "I love you" and "You’re obsessed with me" and what’s actually on the shelf.
Do you think something like a card can help bridge understanding - whether with people who share your background or people who don’t?
Leona: Absolutely! A card is like a low-stakes manifesto. It lets you translate your aura and message into something someone can hold. Whether you’re speaking the same cultural shorthand or introducing them to your world, it’s about saying: "This is how I speak, and I’m inviting you into it and a lot of that can be done through imagery alone."
What was it about the UK community that made you feel like Rich Girl Paper needed to be here?
The diaspora is a whole mood and the demand has been crazy. There’s this shared experience of being away from home but trying to keep the "home" energy alive. We noticed that the Nigerian community and the wider diaspora here are navigating distance with a lot of heart, but not enough paper that actually sounds like us. We figured it was time someone brought the flavour.
Beyond the business, what have you noticed about how people here show up for each other - or try to?
Leona: People here are really trying - they’re just doing it in the ways that they can. It’s less spontaneous "I’m outside your house" and more "I’ve booked a brunch three weeks in advance to show I care." There’s a real effort to maintain closeness in a city that’s designed to keep you busy and tired. We see the hustle, and we respect it.
What do you hope people feel or recognise in themselves, when they come across Rich Girl Paper here?
Ify: I want them to feel like they just got a text from their best friend that gets them. I want them to see their own humour and their interests reflected back at them. Mostly, I want them to realize that being thoughtful doesn’t have to be a whole choreographed production, it just has to be real. And maybe a little bit cheeky from time to time.
Showing up is definitely a bit different now. It’s less “I’m outside your yard” and more “this made me think of you.” And maybe that’s why something like a well-thought-out card or note still matters. One that represents who you are, feels familiar, and reflects the way you show up for the people you love. For that, we have Rich Girl Paper to thank. Use the discount code TTCxRGP for 10% off your next Rich Girl Paper order!
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