Like a Phoenix, BENU Rises

First, a move from Russia to Armenia. Now, this young company is challenging our conceptions of the hand-painted fountain pen.

- SUZANNE C. LEE

BENU Pen Company, which debuted in 2016, takes its name from multiple sources that connect with one another. First, the word derives from the Egyptian deity Bennu, associated with the sun, creation, and regeneration. BENU is also an actual bird and was one of the oldest names for the phoenix, a mythological animal that would burn itself on a pyre only to be reborn. BENU Pen, using feathers as a metaphor for quills, finds inspiration in the bird’s representation as an agent of change, recurrence, and renovation. Another component is linguistic in nature: “BENU” is related to the Egyptian word weben, which can be translated as “to rise in brilliance.”

Just as Bennu the deity is characterized by transformation and the rebirth that can occur during and after that process, BENU Pen is flourishing while undergoing profound operational (and even spatial) changes. Political issues forced BENU to reconsider its location in Russia, and when BENU’s executives experienced the uniquely beautiful country of Armenia, they decided it was the perfect place to settle. Like BENU Pen’s own writing instruments, the city in which the business now resides, Yerevan, is modern and comfortable but retains the rich aesthetics of Armenia’s incredible natural landscape.

The brand was founded by Alex Semanin and Kate Dmitrieva, who both have experience in luxury markets including watches, jewelry, and home decor. Together, the two have launched multiple successful ventures over the last 15 years. Having admired and enjoyed fountain pens, they decided to create a company that dealt specifically in writing instruments and desk accessories. From the start, Semanin was in charge of design and production and Dmitrieva was responsible for marketing, sales, customer service, and business operations.