While most might have swapped out their notepads for iPads, here are some of our favourite stationery brands that just might reignite in you the joys of putting pen to paper.

✋ Hands up if you used to spend significant amounts of money on stationery back in school because we sure did! While we might not be busy making lecture notes look pretty these days, we still see merit in putting pen to paper whenever we can. In fact, experts have long supported the idea of immortalising one’s thoughts with ink in the name of mental health and work performance — pretty crucial in such a time as this!

Just in case you’re game to take a break from emojis and emails and revisit the multi-sensory tactile pleasures of stationery, here are five of our favourite stationery brands that you won’t be able to say no to!

1. Best Stationery For Picky Souls: ana tomy 

In a world where personalisation has taken off, ana tomy has it all figured out. I mean, which other retailer gives you the freedom to customise every single aspect of your notebook or planner? From the book cover to the type of paper, right down to the colour of its ring binding — it’s the ultimate fantasy for those struggling to find a notebook appropriate for their needs. In fact, the brand boasts a whopping 9 million permutations for you to play around with. The possibilities are literally endless. 

Image credits: ana tomy

Classy and minimalistic, ana tomy’s series of notebooks are super affordable and come in a wide variety of textures and designs, including limited-edition tie-ups with iconic artists and brands like Janice Sung and Cornetto Ice cream. Ready to get lost in a sea of choice?

Shipping Cost: US$8 (~S$10.80)
Price: From US$2 – US$120 (~S$2.70 – S$162.70)
Purchase yours here 

2. Best Stationery For Creatives: Ohh Deer

Every now and then, you’ll chance upon a budding artist with a stellar portfolio of products and designs. Now imagine this at a much larger scale — that’s Ohh Deer for you! This UK-based stationery and gift shop prides itself on using its platform to highlight individual artists, with a roster of over 100 creatives from around the world. With such a big team, you can only expect eclectic designs and an amazing repository of stationery to choose from. 

Image credits: Ohh Deer 

To avoid running the risk of going broke while shopping with them, we recommend opting for their PaperGang box, a stationery subscription service that features the work of a different artist each month. Of course, if you can’t commit, you can opt to purchase single boxes from their past collections. We promise it’s worth it, especially with all the #InstaWorthy photos you’ll be taking!

Shipping Cost: From £10.95 (~S$20.60)
Price: £1.50 – £41.95 (~S$2.80 – S$79.00)
Purchase yours here

3. Best Stationery For Minimalists: Rhodia

If you fancy yourself as a stationery connoisseur, then you’re likely acquainted with Rhodia. Made famous for their classic orange notepads, Rhodia has since expanded into classic wire-bound notebooks and even bullet journal-friendly ones! 

Image credits: Rhodia

Their orange notepads may be timeless, but their newer Rhodiarama Soft Cover series is hard to resist. They use 90gsm paper, which means thick and smooth sheets that won’t suffer the tragic ink bleedthrough — crucial for bullet journaling! The best part is that they’ve gone bold and went ahead to introduce 16 beautiful faux leather cover colours! Now imagine lining your bookshelves with the rainbow 🤤

Shipping Cost: From S$12. Free shipping for orders over S$60.
Price: S$1.80 – S$48.90
Purchase yours here

4. Best Stationery For Hustlers: MiGOALS 

If you love the idea of bullet journaling, but don’t think you’re up for the challenge just yet, MiGoals is a great middle ground. Designed with the intent of guiding people through goal-setting and personal development, the brand’s range of planners aims to keep users accountable to themselves all year round. 

Image credits: MiGoals

Since we’re all stuck in our home offices, we find that their desk pads are great alternatives to productivity journals. Besides, their iconic prompts for habit-tracking and intention-setting remain the mainstay across all their desk pads, so you’re not losing out on the MiGoals Experience! 

Shipping Cost: From A$38 (~S$38.50). Free shipping for orders over A$250 (~S$253.40)
Price: A$3.95 – A$50 (~S$4 – S$50.70)
Purchase yours here

5. Best Stationery For Print Enthusiasts: Rifle Paper Co.

Okay, so this isn’t exactly an indie brand. But it definitely deserves a greater spotlight here in Singapore! Rifle Paper Co. is known for their hand-painted botanical illustrations, amongst their other super cute designs! 

Image credits: Rifle Paper Co.

Before you tumble down the stationery rabbit hole with this one, let us help you out. Stock up on their range of greeting cards to tide you through the various festive seasons, or go all out by designing your very own note cards! (Either way, they make for perfect housewarming gifts!) Don’t forget to throw in a ballpoint pen or two into that cart to up your home office aesthetic — you can purchase pen refills for cheap online! 

Shipping Cost: From US$23 (~S$31.20)
Price: US$10 – US$140 (~S$13.60 – S$189.80)
Purchase yours here

Get Write To It!

Image credits: Unsplash

There’s something so unique about putting pen to paper and letting your creativity run wild. In fact, it’s so important in a time like this, where the lines between work and rest are often blurred. So go on — tap into your inner child, and have some fun! 

While we probably only scratched the surface with this shortlist of brands, we hope that it’ll encourage you to delve deeper and discover more independent artists and brands for yourself. If you have a recommendation for a brand that deserves more spotlight than it currently has, send them our way by leaving a comment below! 

Don’t forget to cart out with your YouTrip Card so that you can save more with our Wholesale Exchange Rates (who knows, the total savings might be enough for you to buy another notebook!)

If you still haven’t gotten your free YouTrip card, use our special promo code <BLOG5> to sign up and receive a free S$5 in your account! 

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^{*All currency conversion rates are accurate to nearest 10 cents on 16 Jul 2021 SGT 01:00 AM. Bank card prices are calculated based on 3.25% foreign currency transaction fee.}

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