World-class paper-based stationery manufacturer Sinclairs decided to relaunch its Silvine Originals collection – a British staple in the world of notebooks for nearly 100 years. The notebooks, with their iconic bold red cover and midnight blue wreath logo adorning the front, are now back on retail shelves of high end retail outlets and specialist stationers.

The paper stock is sourced from the renowned James Cropper paper mill in Kendal, which has been producing speciality paper since 1845. A family-run business, just like Sinclairs in its sixth generation, James Cropper was chosen as the supplier due to its unrivalled expertise in colour development and unwavering standards of its crafted paper products.

James Cropper worked closely with Sinclairs to colour-match the 1960’s bold red for the new 300gsm covers of the notebooks, staying true to the legacy created by these pioneering books, while the inside is made from 90gsm Natural White Wove writing paper. The subtle corded cover texture very closely matches the cover of the books found in the Sinclairs archive, and together with the delicate off white hue of the book leaves, a joy to write or draw on, create the perfect balance of contrast.

Each notebook is made in the original factory, using machinery that has been making Sinclairs products for six generations. Of course, times have changed and so have some of the processes, but the new Originals collection, with papers tailor-made from James Cropper, retains everything that made it so iconic.

Gemma Bassett

Marketing Manager, Sinclairs

“ James Cropper have a passion for paper. It comes through in all that they do, actually we started working with them in 1860. We’ve got that amazing relationship. It’s family owned, like us, it’s six generation, like us, and I think it’s really important to us that they continue to innovate, as are we. ”

Gemma Bassett

Marketing Manager, Sinclairs