We put a lot on our stationery, but what about what goes into our stationery? As a child of the 70s, I didn’t think much further than my cherished Hello Kitty stickers, but I wasn’t working as a stationery market editor for very long before realizing that much of what you see on American shelves today derives from generations upon generations of exacting European craftsmanship traditions.
Thus, houses of stationery like Smythson of Bond Street (UK), Clairefontaine (France), Leuchtturm1917 (Germany), Moleskine (Italy), Caran d’Ache (Switzerland), and Faber-Castell (Germany) don’t simply produce pricey product, their wares exhibit a certain Old World attention to every last element that’s simply not innate to American shores for the most part.
Edging toward its own centennial, Rossi1931 was first established in Florence as an artisanal lithography shop, but continues to honor its roots with exquisite designs that blend tradition with fresh design and color. For me personally, actually experiencing this house’s offerings are like a bit like a tiny taste of Italy — with none of the irritating travel or crowds.
The Rossi1931 samples I’ve received over the years initially felt a bit too precious to actually use. I remember feeling almost intimidated to try out a pristine journal — and then being delighted by how my pencil skirted across its luxe surface. Who knew that simply making a list could feel so effortless, natural — and yes, elevated?
I reconnected with this incredible brand at this past NY NOW, and was thrilled when Mr. Matia Rossi himself, co-owner, agreed to take this nerd’s questions!
SS: Rossi1931 turns a century old in 2031, but many have not heard of it. Can you provide a brief history lesson on this esteemed, ultra-luxe brand?
MR: Rossi 1931 was founded by my grandfather, Antonio Rossi, in 1931 in Borgo San Lorenzo, a small village nestled in the hills of Florence. It began as a small artisan typography workshop, specializing in the production of fine cards and paper for correspondence.
During World War II, the business was bombed, but my grandfather found the strength to start over from scratch, adapting to the changing times. Rossi’s stationery quickly became popular, especially among foreign tourists visiting Italy for its rich art and history.
As the business gained recognition among both foreigners and locals, Antonio was awarded the title Cavaliere della Repubblica in 1965, in recognition of his contributions during Italy’s post-war economic miracle.
With the second generation, his son Giorgio Rossi brought new energy to the company. He was the one who transformed Rossi from a small local business in the 1960s into an international exporter by the late 1980s. Giorgio introduced innovation to both product and design, expanded trade into Germany, France, and the UK, and began selling across the Atlantic in the United States.
This marked the beginning of Rossi’s international expansion. Our sales network grew steadily, with beautiful stores and bookshops across Europe carrying our products. In the U.S., our high-quality, 100% cotton “Made in Italy” paper became increasingly appreciated. Our dedicated team of sales agents worked tirelessly to spread Rossi’s fine stationery throughout North America. Simultaneously, we expanded eastward, opening markets in Japan, South Korea, and Australia.
In the 1990s, Rossi experienced a significant period of acquisitions. We were fortunate to acquire many archives from historic typographies and printers across Italy. One of the most notable was Edizione d’Arte Dordoni, a prestigious art publishing house in Milan. This era enabled us to build an archive of over 6,000 designs, which continue to inspire the creation of new products and stationery lines today.
Giorgio’s wife, Patrizia Margheri, brought with her a rich background in art and art education. A beloved student of the renowned Florentine architect Giovanni Michelucci, she transitioned from teaching to join the company. Alongside her husband, she helped create many of the Florentine and decorative paper designs that remain iconic in our catalog.
With the third generation, Giorgio and Patrizia’s sons, Taddeo and Mattia Rossi, joined the business in the late 1990s, bringing a modern vision. I (Mattia) focus on sales, marketing, and creative direction, while Taddeo oversees printing and the sourcing of the exquisite raw materials that define the quality of our products.
In 2001, Rossi celebrated its 70th anniversary with a major expansion of the factory, adding both state-of-the-art modern machinery and traditional equipment that distinguishes our printing methods. In the new millennium, exports became our main source of revenue as we entered new markets in South America and China. In those years, Rossi has also begun collaborating with major fashion brands worldwide, reviving the love for stationery and tradition.
Although the business has embraced modernity, we remain faithful to traditional printing techniques. All our products are 100% made in Italy and crafted by our skilled artisans. Patrizia is still very much part of the team, and it’s quite possible that a boxed stationery set you’ve purchased, or may purchase in the future, was assembled by her own hands.
We are now approaching the fourth generation of the Rossi family. Both Mattia and Taddeo each have two children: Giangiacomo (21), Ludovica (17), Duccio (18), and Giorgia (9). They represent the future of the business. If, after completing their studies, they choose to join, it will be up to them to reinterpret the Rossi brand and guide it through the evolving marketplace.
SS: Tell me about your most recent release. Why do you think it appeals specifically to the US market?
MR: Every year, we adapt our product line based on what our clients love most and the evolving trends we observe in the market. In recent years, our exports to the U.S. have been steadily increasing, and we felt it was the right moment to dedicate a line of stationery specifically to our American customers, capturing what they appreciate and giving it an Italian twist.
We created a line of letterpress boxed stationery that is premium in quality, simple yet elegant, and features a small motif or symbol. Each card is also embossed along the edges, adding a refined touch. While our stationery has always been known for its artistic flair, we saw an opportunity to introduce something more subtle and business-oriented.
The reception has been extraordinary, with many of our clients placing repeat orders. We’ve already introduced a holiday-themed version in our new seasonal catalog and are planning to expand the collection next year by offering more motifs and symbols.
Our American customers particularly love our signature gold foil accents and our traditional letterpress printing techniques.
SS: Rossi 1931’s 300 decorative papers have nearly endless uses, but are especially ideal for envelope liners. Can you speak to the eternal elegance of a lined envelope? Why do you think this sometimes pricey feature endures?
MR: What sets a nice envelope apart from an elegant and sophisticated one is, without a doubt, the lining. In recent years, monochromatic liners have grown in popularity, but they often lack the personality and charm of a beautifully decorated lining.
Our decorative papers are the result of nearly a century of research, craftsmanship, and customer feedback. We offer a wide range of designs to suit every taste; from the classic elegance of our CRT line with golden accents, to the younger and more vibrant look of our LTP letterpress collection.
Every design is printed using traditional techniques, whether offset or letterpress. When used as envelope liners, these papers truly make the envelope stand out. The envelope and card become not just a formality, but a gift in themselves; an elegant gesture accompanying whatever message or present they contain.
SS: What are other frequent uses for the papers?
MR: Our decorative papers are crafted using the highest quality raw materials available. Depending on the line, they range from 85 to 120 g/m², providing the perfect balance of elasticity and strength; making them incredibly versatile and durable.
Their uses are virtually limitless, often defined only by the creativity of the person working with them. Some of the most common applications include bookbinding, DIY projects, drawer lining, scrapbooking, origami, decoration, and decoupage.
Our papers are also widely used in luxury packaging across various industries: from fine chocolate and artisanal soap to tableware and cutlery. They’ve even been used to line lamps, furniture, and other interior pieces. Over the years, several designers have also transformed our patterns into beautiful collections of clothing, bags, and accessories.
SS: While those liners always make me think of your boxed stationery first, Rossi 1931 also produces notebooks, notepads and place cards. What types of luxe touches in these products tend to surprise and delight American consumers?
MR: All Rossi products begin with our decorative paper, meaning the same attention to detail found in our designs carries through to the rest of our stationery collection. The secret lies in three core principles: premium materials, traditional Made in Italy craftsmanship, and elegant simplicity.
Our products are designed to be not only beautiful but also functional. Over the years, we’ve carefully refined our notebooks to prevent ink bleed and to stay open while writing, and developed notepads that tear cleanly and effortlessly. Whether it’s through embossing or letterpress printing, every product offers a unique tactile experience. Our designs aren’t flat; they have depth and character.
And of course, we can’t forget our signature gold foil accents; have I mentioned those yet ?!
SS: Tell me about your new Italian eco-friendly papers? How are they made differently?
MR: At Rossi, sustainability has been a core value for many years. We take great care to ensure that all our products are ethically sourced, and every component and scrap is fully recyclable.
Nearly a decade ago, we took a major step forward by sourcing colored paper made from vegetable and fruit waste. Recognizing how deeply both we and our customers care about the environment, we used this innovative, eco-friendly material to create a line of notebooks, cards, and envelopes.
This collection, better known as the Letterpress Vintage Animal series, has since become one of our most beloved. The subtle, muted tones of the regenerated paper give each piece a charming, vintage look, perfectly blending sustainability with timeless elegance.
We are also one of the few factories in the stationery sector to use a specialized machine that transforms production waste, such as cardboard and paper, into eco-friendly packaging filler.
SS: What tends to be your top stationery sellers in Italy?
MR: Our customer base in Italy is incredibly international. Every day, millions of tourists visit Italian cities in search of beautiful, 100% Made in Italy items to bring home as meaningful gifts for family and friends. Genuine producers of authentic Italian craftsmanship are becoming increasingly rare, and we’re proud to be at the forefront, preserving tradition and celebrating beauty.
Among visitors, the most appreciated gifts are those that capture the heritage and history of Italy. That’s why stationery from our Classica collection remains especially popular. Whether it’s boxed stationery featuring Florentine designs or notebooks adorned with intricate peacocks, you simply can’t go wrong.
We’re also working on a new collection designed to meet the growing desire to hold onto a piece of Italy, but we can’t reveal much just yet. You’ll have to wait until January, when our 2026 catalogs are released.
SS: What tends to be your top stationery sellers in the US?
Everything sells. The U.S. is such a large and diverse market that tastes vary significantly from city to city and from type of store to another. In Boston, we’ve noticed a strong preference for gold foil letterpress and more understated designs, such as our Vintage Animals or Création de Paris boxed stationery.
In Los Angeles, by contrast, there’s a clear love for color and artistic flair. Our Florentine Classica Italiana stationery, with its vibrant patterns and rich hues, performs exceptionally well, along with our wide range of artistic notebooks and notepads available in hundreds of designs, formats, and styles.
Other factors such as proximity to a university, the product line of the store, location, culture and values play a great role in deciding what kind of Rossi product will be best loved by the customers.
That said, across the entire country, our newest American Taste letterpress boxed stationery line has been a major success. It pairs beautifully with our classic Medieval deckled-edge paper and envelopes social stationery, often chosen for weddings and special events.
We truly offer something for every taste, every type of store, and every budget.
SS: Why do you think the two markets differ?
The difference between markets isn’t in the people, but in their needs. In Italy, customers tend to purchase our products as travel mementos: something beautiful and meaningful to remember their trip by. In the U.S., however, our stationery is more often bought for everyday use, whether for personal correspondence, events, or gifting.
While tastes often overlap, each nationality tends to favor certain styles or writing formats. Whether it’s a preference for bold designs, minimal elegance, or a specific texture of paper, we’ve come to understand and appreciate the subtle nuances that make each market unique.
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Thank you so much Mattia! If you are in the trade, shop a selection of Rossi1931 wares on Faire — and visit their news page to see upcoming trade shows. I would also highly recommend reaching out to Rossi1931’s main US contact, Mary Morgan. She can answer all your questions about every last product and process —it can get quite complicated, even to paper nerds! Email her at mary.morgan@rossi1931.it. She’ll set you up with door-to-door delivery directly from Rossi1931’s factory in Italy at no extra cost.
Mattia also noted — and this is huge! — “We’re also aware of the current import challenges in the U.S. — which is why Rossi 1931 covers all tariff costs. You won’t have to worry about any surprise fees.”
Rossi1931 also operates a wholesale only warehouse in North Carolina, where you can shop a curated selection of its best-selling products 24/7. Delivery takes approximately one week, and the process is simple and seamless. Access it here.
If you are a paper nerd in the wild, head here to find a nearby store — or email the brand directly at northamerica@rossi1931.it.
In my opinion, photographs don’t do these exquisite wares justice, so however you shop these fantastic creations, prepare to be delighted!
