I first got acquainted with gry mattr a few years back, and I pretty much fell in love with every last item. Founded by Joe Mimram — creator of Club Monaco, Joe Fresh and Alfred Sung — every uncluttered, refined and ultra-functional product is designed with one goal in mind: bringing clarity to one’s life.
The brand kindly sent me a slew of samples when it first debuted, and their jet 30-minute hourglass (unsurprisingly currently sold out, though it is available in lemon) has permanent real estate on my desk. Watching it do its job slowly and surely as I wrestle with this bit of copy or that email is incredibly calming to me. I think of it as a Wizard of Oz-inspired, OG alternative to doom-scrolling!
Now the brand has unveiled a limited-edition collab with the fantastic French artist Thomas Lélu. Thomas’ witty, text-based art blends humor with unexpected artfulness, turning the everyday and the expected into something thought-provoking and playful. This new release — consisting of Marché Tote, Poète Notebook and Petite Bottle — elevates carefully crafted, luxurious daily essentials into functional art. And couldn’t we all use a bit of artfulness in that which we use again and again every day?
I had questions, and fortunately, Ross Mortimer, Gry Mattr’s Director Global Development, had answers!
SS: The Parisian artist Thomas Lélu is known for his offbeat humor and hand-scribbled wit — which all begins on paper of course. While he has collaborated with the W Hotel on stationery and the apparel brand ba&sh on clothes, this seems his first lifestyle release. What inspired it?
RM: We loved that Thomas wrote about the creative experience and work/life balance. Gry Mattr has always tried to imbue its design with inspirational messaging and design, so it felt like a very natural fit. We followed his account for a while and finally reached out. The process was really organic and he was invested in making something beautiful.
SS: How long did it take to bring to life from conception to completion?
RM: This collection has been in the works for about a year. Throughout the process, we went through multiple rounds of meetings, design ideation and prototyping to ensure every piece aligned with our brand values and resonated with Thomas’ audience. Our goal was to create a thoughtfully designed collection that felt both intentional and refined.
SS: The notebooks seem especially special since they inspire folks to generate their own hand-scribbled wit. What were essential elements to include?
RM: As a brand with a deep appreciation for notebooks, planners and stationery, creating this piece felt like a natural choice. We’re passionate about crafting the perfect canvas — one that encourages Thomas and anyone else to jot down their daily musings and ideas effortlessly. It is our first A5 blank notebook. We typically do lined notebooks, but we wanted the pieces to connect with Thomas, and so blank pages felt like the obvious fit for his work. Thomas has actually been using the books to create his new poetry.
SS: Will the collection expand in the future, either in new colorways/messaging or additional products?
RM: Although we can’t give too much away yet, it’s possible there could be more items in the works for this collab coming down the pipeline, to be announced this summer!
SS: Is there anything else you’d like to share with paper nerd readers?
RM: This collaboration has been an exciting journey, inspiring us to explore new creative partnerships. Stay tuned for what’s next by following us on Instagram or subscribing to our email newsletter at Grymattr.com. In the meantime, explore our collection of premium stationery, versatile decor, and blue light glasses —crafted for those who appreciate thoughtful design.
Thank you so much Ross! If you are as dazzled by this collection as me, snatch it up before it’s gone!
