The Iconic Retro Paper Cup Design We Had Forgotten About

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There's a design that once seemed to quietly dominate soda fountains, food courts, and family outings — a warm, almost whisper-soft memory for many who grew up in the late '70s and '80s. It's not the flashy, electrifying wave of another famous cup, and at first, you might strain to place it through the haze of half-remembered summer days. But there's something comforting about its simplicity, something that feels more home-spun than trend-driven.

We're talking about the paper cups adorned with orange and yellow flowers — a pattern that conjures images of daffodils and irises, bright and unsophisticated, yet deeply familiar. Though "Orange and Yellow Flowers" isn't the official trademarked name, it fits the design perfectly — and lets us talk about it plainly. Companies like Maryland Cup Company registered the trademark in 1985, though the design had been floating around since about 1975, according to the Retroist.

These cups weren't just drink-holders — they were cultural wallpaper, part of everyday life. Whether stacked at fast-food counters, cafeteria trays, or family picnics, they felt ubiquitous — yet they weren't pushing any brand or corporate slogan. Instead, they radiated a gentle warmth that spoke in soft orange tones and muted yellow blooms.

Despite their omnipresence in their heyday, these floral cups gradually slipped into relative obscurity. They lived in the shadow of the Jazz cup — the teal and purple swoosh design introduced by Sweetheart Cup Company in 1992 (later part of Solo) — which surged in popularity and became emblematic of 1990s nostalgia. Yet, for those who came before that era, these orange-and-yellow blossoms were the real icon.

Collectors and nostalgia buffs still hunt them down. Vintage sellers sometimes offer sleeves of the 1970s-style waxed cups — including full sleeves with that unmistakable floral pattern, often labeled Sweetheart in listings. Even Reddit threads reminisce: "Everybody talks about the '90s teal Jazz wave cups — but do you remember the orange flower Sweetheart cups?" The mystery of who originally designed the pattern remains — no names are known, per the Retroist, despite the trademark filings and several companies having produced versions, including Maryland Cup, Fort Howard, Sweetheart, Solo, Imperial, and Dixie. And while some variants differed — Solo's version, for instance, leaned more orange-gold and had crisper stems — the essence of the design stayed consistent.