Behind the Brand: Rebel Stationery

Rebel Stationery is a new luxury diary and notebook brand with giving back at its heart. London Stationery Show will be the brand’s first show, and the team can’t wait to share its story with visitors.

Rebel Stationery started with two friends having a classic “my job is driving me crazy” conversation. Two hours and a bottle of wine later, Rebel Stationery was born. Annie Couldrey, creative director explains how it came about: “What was clear was that with one of us already working in retail stationery, and the other being a longtime obsessive consumer, we were both noticing the same things and wanting the same changes with our products. Based in London, we quickly recruited another friend and got to work.”

Above: George Thompson, art director; Bex Newell, operations director and Annie Couldrey, creative director
Above: George Thompson, art director; Bex Newell, operations director and Annie Couldrey, creative director

At its core, Rebel Stationery is a luxury diary and notebook brand. Annie says: “We knew we didn’t want to import or purchase book blocks so we started with (many) rounds of figuring out our inner layouts. We wanted to offer flexible organisation, with an equal importance on free time as well as work. We wanted every customer to have an experience opening and using our products, and be able to use them in a way that works for them as individuals. We selected manufacturing partnerships with a proven record of innovation, quality and environmental responsibility.”

At the heart of the brand is giving back. “As a female and queer-led company we knew it was important to all of us to give back, and highlight the work of those who have come before us and given us the opportunity to even have our own business,” says Annie. “Our mission is to shine a light on the amazing women working in the global textile industry, and the contribution they make to our quality of life. Our diaries and notebooks feature examples of their work, and a percentage of our profits go to charities that promote fair living and working conditions, as well as calling for transparency across the industry.”

Above: The team designed the layout of the book blocks themselves.
Above: The team designed the layout of the book blocks themselves.

Annie and the team will be officially launching the brand at London Stationery Show, “so we’re both excited and grateful for the opportunity, and utterly terrified. This is where we’ll discover whether we have a product anyone actually likes! We hope they will appreciate the time and thought that has gone into everything. You won’t believe how much paper we have tested with every kind of pen imaginable!”

Rebel Stationery is exhibiting on stand G208 at the London Stationery Show, 14 – 15 May at the Business Design Centre. Visitor registration is now open and is free for retailers, buyers, dealers and other resellers of stationery. It is not open to the general public.

 

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