Get the latest updates on shopping and gifts for free! Sign up to receive a myFT Daily Digest email every morning. September holds a special place in our hearts, regardless of how long it’s been since we left school. It’s a time when we yearn for new pens, notepads, memo papers, and unique brass paper clips, as if fresh office supplies will magically enhance our productivity and add elegance to our work. One person who understands this sentiment is British accessories designer Anya Hindmarch. She has been obsessed with stationery since childhood and believes that decorating your pencil case was one of the few ways to express yourself in school. Today, Hindmarch uses stationery to feel in control and organized. She finds pleasure in walking into a meeting with a leather wallet containing necessary notes and a pencil case with a fountain pen, pencil, and eraser. The simplicity of these tools brings her great joy and a sense of order.
This weekend, Hindmarch is opening a pop-up shop in collaboration with Japanese heritage brand Itoya in her village in west London. Itoya is known as the “high church of stationery” and is renowned for its role in Japan’s contemporary love of stationery. Founded in 1904, Itoya brought western-style stationery to Japan, including double-entry ledgers that revolutionized bookkeeping at the time. They also introduced pencils, fountain pens, and notebooks, which were all new to the Japanese people. Today, Itoya’s store is an 18-floor paradise and offers a wide range of stationery products.
Hindmarch’s pop-up shop will feature a mix of Itoya’s products and her own designs. She hopes to introduce London customers to Japanese stationery that they may not have seen before, such as cute “tofu” memo pads, washi tape, and calligraphy paper. Hindmarch’s designs include unique items like a giant Pritt Stick pencil case and leather document folders inspired by colored cardboard dividers. Being slightly dyslexic, Hindmarch finds comfort in color coding and having everything in its proper place, which is why she obsesses over compartments in bags and pouches and labeling.
Buying a new pencil case as a sign of intention to organize one’s life is not as far-fetched as it sounds. Cognitive neuroscientist Rachel Taylor explains that it can be therapeutic and even neuroprotective. September holds a special significance for us as it is a time of transition, ingrained in our brains from ancient times when humans would prepare for harvest and the approaching winter. Today, it signifies going back to school and serves as a starting and finishing point for our intentions, goals, and aspirations. Nostalgia also plays a powerful role in motivating us, increasing the meaningfulness of our lives and fostering social connectedness.
Even in a digital age, there is a renewed love for old-fashioned stationery. Nearly 3 million people proudly proclaim themselves as #stationeryaddicts on Instagram. This love is also evident in younger generations. For example, my six-year-old daughter recently came home excitedly announcing that she had finished her faded blue A4 Silvine exercise book and was about to start a fresh one. This led me to buy a batch for myself at a reasonable price. We enjoy the tactile experience of using physical writing equipment, as Carole Hübscher, CEO of Swiss pencil company Caran d’Ache, explains. The act of writing with a pen stimulates our senses of sight, touch, and hearing, making it a truly satisfying experience.
Anya Hindmarch predicts the return of the fountain pen, citing their beauty and environmental benefits compared to disposables. She recalls a time when giving someone a pen for their 21st birthday was considered a lifelong gift. Itoya offers a selection of pens, Choosing Keeping encourages customers to try nibbed pens from their extensive cabinet, and Caran d’Ache is launching a new colorway of their refillable 849 pens, which are based on the shape of their pencils and come with guaranteed repairs. These products have stood the test of time, and if used with care, they will continue to serve future generations.
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