Step and repeat may be one of the most confused phrases in event planning. As a matter of fact, as providers to individuals and organizations that cater to the event planning industry, ceremonialsupplies.com often handles requests that mention "step and repeat ribbon" but in reality, our customer is looking for something else. Here is the definitive answer of what is step and repeat, and, is there such a thing as a step and repeat ribbon?
The History Behind "Step and Repeat"
To clarify the misconception of a step and repeat ribbon, let's go back 90 years in history. The term "step and repeat" originated with Hollywood's film industry and the world of high fashion. Since 1929 when the First Academy Awards ceremony was presented at the Hollywood Roosevelt Hotel in Los Angeles, actors, actresses and prominent guests became the focal point of journalists and photographers. In those days celebrities were seen as larger than life icons and their fans fawned over their favorites, intrigued by the sparkling dresses and dazzling tuxes worn during star-studded occasions.
Walking the red carpet framed by the famous "Oscar" golden statue, guests and honorees wearing garments and jewelry designed by the world's most luxurious brands, received front page newspaper coverage to delight their followers. It's no secret that in the early days of cinema film personalities competed for media attention. If one celebrity had a better photograph than another, there were feuds to deal with! To avoid the perception of favoritism, the process of photographing famous stars was simplified by creating a platform in front of a large version of the award statuette, where these popular personalities would "step" onto and pose for photographers, one by one. After each was photographed, the process was "repeated" with the next person. This is how the term "step and repeat" was born.
Backdrops And Banners In The Corporate World
As the popularity of films grew studios saw the benefit of creating backdrops of movie posters, and later logos, for the step and repeat process. These backdrops became a standard element for the event, but they were large and at no point ever called a step and repeat ribbon. When the photos of celebrities in front of these backdrops hit the newsstands, companies recognized the advertisement value and began to adopt these for the photos of corporate gala events. Suddenly, printing companies began to receive requests for this new item called "step and repeat" backdrop where one or more logos had to be placed repeatedly on a large wall-sized area. These repeated patterns were first painted or stenciled over hard surfaces and were quite costly to produce. When vinyl became available for banners, the adoption of the term "step and repeat banner" was appropriated by printers to include anything that involved the repeated printing of a design or text. Step and repeat ribbon however, is not the same thing as a step and repeat banner, because it isn't a backdrop. It's a ribbon. The process of repeating a printed logo or message on a ribbon is simply, printing.
The creation of step and repeat banners is a valuable publicity technique because the media follows famous people, and when they stand in front of a big sign with logos, the featured product receives automatic, long term advertisement. A step and repeat ribbon, meaning a printed ribbon with a logo or message, would be an additional item used to promote the occasion.
Add Glamour To Your Event
Today, with the creation of the Internet, its various social media outlets such as websites, online magazines, and personal pages, combined with the advancement in digital and holographic technology any event can, and should, boast the finesse and polish of photographing guests on a red carpet, and in front of a step and repeat banner - which we now know is not the same thing as a step and repeat ribbon (which in fact doesn't actually exist.) Ceremonialsupplies.com offers our customers various kits and items that include all the necessary elements to make your special occasion "Oscar" worthy. For these ceremonies, we offer step and repeat banners, and large printed ribbons of varying lengths. These ribbons can have your logo or message printed repeatedly across the entire length of the ribbon. But don't worry, because even if the term "step and repeat ribbon" is incorrect, we get what you mean! Click here for a shipping quote.