Treat yourself to a high-quality notepad

Have you ever treated yourself to a high-quality notepad, or do you—like I used to—reach for the cheapest one for jotting down your notes? Recently, I was preparing to write a letter to a dear friend in The Netherlands and wanted something a little more special. I initially tried writing on unlined paper, but my words ended up all over the place, so I knew I needed something with a guide. That’s when I stumbled upon an intriguing orange notepad in the store—the Rhodia notepads. The moment I touched the paper, I noticed how smooth it felt, and the lines were so subtly printed, exactly what I needed for a neat, thoughtful letter.

I decided to give it a try, and now there’s no going back to cheap notepads! As a self-proclaimed stationery nerd, I should’ve known about this brand sooner really. While my love for stationery has always prioritised pens and a good, long-lasting organiser, Rhodia notepads in all their different sizes have now earned their place in my list.

Front cover: design details and function

The first thing that caught my attention was the simple yet brilliant design of what might seem like an insignificant feature—the front cover flip. It may sound trivial to most, but for a stationery-nerd like me, it’s a true goosebump moment. Let me explain: the front cover has three perfectly placed creases, so when you fold it over the notepad, those creases align seamlessly with the thickness of your Rhodia notepad, allowing the cover to lay completely flat. While some might overlook a wonky crease, for true paper lovers, this kind of thoughtful functionality is everything.

Another detail I absolutely love is how the logo appears right-side up on the top edge when you flip the cover to the back. It’s such a sleek, polished touch, and it makes me wonder why more companies haven’t adopted this clever little design feature. It’s these small, intentional details that really elevate the whole experience.

After this delightful discovery, I couldn’t resist looking into Rhodia’s backstory, and I was thrilled to uncover the brand’s interesting history.

The iconic orange brand Rhodia

First cool thing about this brand is that it has withstand the test of time. Founded in 1934 in the Rhône region of France, the company recently celebrated its 90th anniversary, which is quite remarkable for a brand that started out making simple notepads. But these “simple” notepads became iconic, today, I can’t imagine using anything else. The brand was founded by brothers Henri and Robert Vérilhac, who are said to be symbolised by the two fir trees in the logo—a charming touch that has remained unchanged for nearly a century.

Dreamy Clairefontaine paper quality

Rhodia’s iconic notepads are produced today by Clairefontaine, another esteemed French company known for its exceptional paper quality. What’s even better is their commitment to sustainability. Clairefontaine uses primarily fibers from sawmill waste or thinning cuts, ensuring that they don’t contribute to deforestation. Only the outer edges of the wood are used for paper production, while the core goes to furniture and construction industries. They even manage their own forests in the Vosges region and operate a water treatment plant, further underscoring their environmental responsibility.

What makes Clairefontaine paper such a joy to write on:

Conclusion

When I set out to find a quality notepad, I expected to pay a premium for something as nice as Rhodia. To my surprise, there’s no need to break the bank to enjoy the pleasure of writing on these notepads. This attention to detail and quality makes Rhodia notepads an unbeatable choice for anyone who loves writing with precision and style.