Tuesday, August 26, 2008
It feels like pretty much everyone has a Moleskine at this point...hard to believe they only launched in 1998. How does a notebook brand go from zero to ubiquity in ten years? They're definitely great products... super well designed...with the elastic closure, bookmark ribbon, and expandable pocket on inside back cover. But the real story is Moleskine marketing.
The thing you usually hear about Moleskines is that they were used by famous writers and artists like Hemingway and Picasso. This is a half truth...the Moleskine design is based on those notebooks, but the brand is new. Misleading or not, that backstory authenticates the brand and is a major part of its allure. Then there's the product extensions like the City Notebooks, which work as visitor guide/travel journals for major cities around the world... and the Detour project, where they exhibit artists' work in notebooks. Finally there's the the Milan-based company's Italian heritage, which never hurts (are they Made in Italy? Not sure...).
So yeah, Moleskine.... great products, even better marketing.
Moleskine home.
Detour artist projects.
© 2007, M13
www.M13.ca
Tuesday Reviews - Moleskine Notebooks
posted by M13 on Tuesday, August 26, 2008