Girls love cute stationery, especially those designed in South Korea and Japan. However, after immigrating to the UK, one may find that the designs here are relatively simple, and most stationery stores do not carry cute styles. So what should girls do if they want to buy cute stationery? Today, I will provide some tips and introduce some adorable stationery brands and stores where these products can be purchased.
Muji
This brand is familiar to everyone; it is a Japanese brand known as 無印良品 in Chinese. We have previously written an article about it; for details, please click here. Since it is a Japanese brand, even though it advocates minimalism, its stationery still exudes a hint of cuteness. The most recommended items are their colored pens, which come in a wide range of colors and thicknesses, making it motivating to take notes in class!
Cath Kidston
The stationery from this floral brand is not extensive, but they do have a good variety of notebooks ranging from thin to thick. The covers of the notebooks feature their classic floral patterns, and the paper quality is excellent with fine printing.
The Green Gables
This is a particularly kind British brand. It originates from the countryside of Surrey, and all materials used are eco-friendly. They also donate to four charitable organizations. The patterns are designed by Gabrielle Treanor, featuring a fresh and cute line-drawing style. One of their most unique products is a magical paper called Plantable Wildflower Paper, which can be planted in the ground to grow wildflowers, making it perfect for gifts. They also offer a fresh and dreamy wedding series, including notebooks, gift information paper, cards, and heart-shaped tape, among others.
Present and Correct
P&C is a young brand founded in 2008. The two founders are designers who not only sell their own designed stationery but also travel the world to find stationery they love to sell. P&C is a standard stationery store, offering notebooks, pens, rulers, scissors, push pins, sharpeners, art books, and various other products. The designs are strong, cute, practical, and full of personality.
Archie Grand
Archie Grand is an artist whose grandfather was in the stationery business. Unfortunately, his grandfather's business did not do well, so he designed a series of notebooks to help him. His inspiration comes from the little things in British life, rich with British charm. The notebooks are all the same model, brightly colored, with similar text on the covers. However, they all evoke a strong desire to buy.
Moleskine
Moleskine has always marketed itself as elegant and artistic. It is said that Vincent van Gogh used seven Moleskine notebooks, and Ernest Hemingway wrote his manuscripts in Moleskine. If you have seen the BBC adaptation of Sherlock Holmes, please note that the notebook he uses is also a Moleskine. Because it follows a high-end route, Moleskine's designs are generally understated, with black hard covers and high-quality Italian paper inside. However, Moleskine does have some series that are perfect for cute girls who love life, such as the City series and the Passion series. The former covers many major cities around the world, featuring high-scale blank maps that you can fill in to create your own city guide. I started writing a city notebook for London last year, hoping to fill it up by the time I leave. The Passion series is even better, designed to record your life interests. There are notebooks for reading notes, wine tasting, fashion style records, movie reviews, pet notes, etc., allowing you to document your passions in life as a gift to your future self.
Paperblanks
Paperblanks is a diary brand that believes diaries are one of the oldest forms of art, so they take each diary very seriously. Their designs lean towards classical styles, often inspired by regions rich in mystery, such as Persia and the Middle East. The manufacturers pay great attention to paper quality, and the notebooks are very exquisite.
Artbox
Walking into Artbox feels like entering a Japanese and Korean style stationery store, filled with Hello Kitty, Bearbrick, and various cute little notebooks, all super kawaii, though the prices are several times higher than in China. In addition to stationery, they also have small dolls, stickers, clothes, and all sorts of cute items. Currently, they have two stores in London, one in Selfridges and one in Covent Garden.
WHSmith
WHSmith is the most common stationery store, selling books, magazines, and stationery. Here you can find many other brands of stationery, such as Filofax, Moleskine, Paperblanks, etc. WHSmith also offers stationery designed for children, all in cute styles, which you can browse through slowly.
Paperchase
Paperchase is a well-known stationery store in the UK, and according to their website, they are undoubtedly the leader in British stationery. Indeed, their designs are quite unique in UK stationery stores, featuring many cute items and brands they represent. They now have over 100 stores across the UK, and students can go and explore. Personally, I love their tapes, which come in various patterns and are much more stylish than transparent tape.
In addition to the major brand stores, there are also some websites where you can purchase stationery online. For example, Stone offers a wide range of products, including many colored inks. They also sell many exquisitely designed writing pens, making great gifts for partners, friends, or oneself. After reading all these introductions, you might realize that the UK is not lacking in stationery stores; what is lacking is the discerning eye to discover them. If you just want to buy ordinary notebooks, paper, and pens, many supermarkets also sell them at reasonable prices. However, for those looking for beautiful items, it is still best to browse specialized stores or shop online slowly.