Once the crowning glory of any package, gift bows have been part of gift wrapping since the mid-20th century. A few decades earlier, brothers Joyce C. and Rollie Hall began to sell the French paper that lined envelopes as an alternative to brown packaging paper. Gift wrapping quickly became a celebrated skill, reaching elaborate heights as extra adornments emerged.
Gift bows, ribbons, tassels, and tags added excitement and a touch of drama to gift-giving. Today, bows still add that final pop and pizzazz to a well-wrapped gift.