The Sailor 50 States ink series made its PW debut in our Trends in '21 special section (Vol. 34 No. 1, December 2020), and trendy it certainly is! The Sailor 50 States fountain pen ink series has exploded in popularity since its debut. Each 20-ml glass bottle of fountain-pen-friendly ink is inspired in color and theme by the state for which it is named.
While all the inks are created at Sailor's Japan headquarters, the idea for the Sailor 50 States series is an American invention. Don Takemura, president of Sailor's U.S. distributor Itoya Profolio, and Itoya's Creative Director Rachel Kostival are the brains behind the project.
In preparation for an interview on the Sailor 50 States series, Takemura and Kostival sent me a list of the most commonlyasked questions by Facebook and Instagram users. The questions from fans of the series were so comprehensive, they became the cornerstone of the interview that follows here:
How did you come up with the idea for the Sailor 50 States ink series?
Don Takemura: Sailor has so many wonderful fountain pen ink colors and themes that are based on things you see and experience in Japan, like the four seasons, exotic local flowers, or other things in nature. But how is that truly relevant to us in North America? And then, how do we come up with a series theme that could continue much longer than just six or eight ink colors?
Being an American and a car guy, I've always liked how license plates on cars were so different from state to state, so 1 thought it would be super cool and relevant to have 50 different state inks. Maybe people will buy an ink because it's where they live or a state where they grew up. Or maybe they'll just buy it because it's a cool color or somewhere they dream of going. It's actually so specific and relevant!
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2022 من PEN WORLD.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك ? تسجيل الدخول
هذه القصة مأخوذة من طبعة April 2022 من PEN WORLD.
ابدأ النسخة التجريبية المجانية من Magzter GOLD لمدة 7 أيام للوصول إلى آلاف القصص المتميزة المنسقة وأكثر من 9,000 مجلة وصحيفة.
بالفعل مشترك? تسجيل الدخول
Remembering Ward Dunham (October 11, 1941 - August 24, 2024)
On August 24, 2024, calligrapher Ward Dunham passed away.
The Black Pen Society and the D.C. Pen Show: Poobah in a Flower Pot
Do you like black pens? If so, you are probably already familiar with the fun, frivolity, and fellowship associated with the Black Pen Society (BPS).
Stationery Fest: This Is Not a Pen Show
Daisy and Neil Ni's twist on the traditional pen show is about community, not commerce.
"It Has Style:" A History of the Aurora Hastil (1969-1970)
The Italian pen company's experiment in modernism led to a revolution in late 20th century pen design. A two-part series.
GW Pens Scores a Critical Hit
With new collections inspired by Dungeons & Dragons and Fender guitars, artisan John Greco is tapping into cultural trends.
Roterfaden's "Pocket Companion' "
The Taschenbegleiter hand-made planner system from German artisan cooperative Roterfaden features a modular organizational system that grows with the user's ambitions.
S.T. Dupont Takes the Iron Throne
The French atelier continues its forays into popular culture with a new, officially licensed Game of Thrones collection.
More Mail, More Dip-Less
The six-part series on dip-less (or one-dip) fountain pens garnered some major attention through its run from October 2023 through August 2024 (Vol. 36 No. 6 Vol. 37 No. 5).
David Oscarson: A Reflection
The artisan pen maker celebrates 25 years of luxury writing instruments with a new collection that harkens to his Art Nouveau roots.
The Parkette Hopalong Cassidy Ballpoint Pen
The Jotter was advertised as Parker's first ballpoint pen, but a novelty item that played on the Hopalong Cassidy culture craze predated it.