Hong Kong stationery store out to revive lost art of handwriting

Handwritten notes; remember them? Such communication may have taken a digital drubbing but there are still some of us out there - and you know who you are - who get excited about stationery, whether it's a worn leather notebook, a clean sheet of recycled paper or a set of sharp-pointed pencils. And these people will no doubt be happy to know their fancy is being catered to by Printer & Co, which has opened its first pop-up shop, in Tsim Sha Tsui.

Printer & Co is all about reviving the art of traditional writing - and the decorum that accompanied it. The store features two open spaces: one focusing on paper and art and craft supplies; the other filled with signature collections - handcrafted notecards, journals, gift tags and the like - including those for children and "his and her" sets. Furthermore, the company is spreading the word with a series of workshops on the long-lost arts of handwriting, calligraphy and composing thank-you notes.

"As the quest for productivity demands an increasingly rapid pace of life, we cannot help feeling nostalgia for bygone, slow-living days when the handwritten note was a faithfully observed part of social life," the company says.

Calligraphy workshops will be held at the store on May 15 and May 22 (2pm to 4pm). On May 29, a workshop will attempt to teach children how to write a thank-you note (good luck with that!) and workshops on May 21 and on May 29 (2pm to 3pm) will explain the intricacies of a word mosaic.

"This collaboration goes beyond a shopping experience. We are bringing our philosophy of slow living, authentic connection and mindful consumption to life through a series of workshops inviting local calligraphers, certified play therapists and leading creative writers," the company says. "We hope to revive the sense of well-being in each and every person in touch with Printer & Co."