It’s been a whirlwind of a year for Andhand. Since winning the Stationery Matters award for Writing Instrument of the Year 2023, the brand has new stockists across the UK and Japan and a new range of its sleek, modern pens to showcase at this year’s London Stationery Show.
Established in 2021, Andhand is the brainchild of Simon Donald and Joe Wentworth who are both product designers by trade (having both studied together at the RCA) and have spent years working together designing products for big international brands. They founded Andhand over a joint love for all things stationery but also to have full art direction, control and responsibility for their products from start to finish.
“We offer a growing range of modern pens and desk accessories all machined from premium grade aluminium , brass or stainless steel,” says co-founder Simon Donald. “Our products are for designed with the curated desk in mind. They are objects that are great enough to be proudly out on display and not shoved away in a drawer.”
Everything is designed in-house, focusing on pared back minimal forms with excellent functionality and innovation. “While the forms are minimal we design the items to be really tactile so you won’t want to put them down,” says Simon. “We also make a point of embracing the natural qualities of the materials that we use.”
Last year was the brand’s first time taking part in the London Stationery Show, and they were a little taken aback to walk away with the Stationery Matters Writing Instrument of the Year award according to Simon. “Within the space of a year we’ve also built some really great relationships with fantastic new stockists across the UK and Japan. We’re really humbled by the reception we’ve had and people’s genuine love for our products.”
This year Andhand is introducing the Aspect Pen. “We’re really proud of this compact pen and feel anyone into journaling, sketching or note taking will love it too. We developed possibly the most satisfying click mechanism yet for the pen, it’s hard to explain but it’s more like a piston than a traditional movement. And to top it all we’re expanding our colour palette and offering it in a forest green and blush pink anodised finish along with some of the more usual colours we’re known for,” says Simon.
“We’re really looking forward to everyone getting to try out the new Aspect Pen at the show,” says Simon. “And after last year, we’re definitely going to provide a lot more space for people to give the pens a go and have a good scribble!”
Andhand is exhibiting on stand G120 at the London Stationery Show, 14 – 15 May at the Business Design Centre. Visitor registration is now open and is free for retailers, buyers, dealers and other resellers of stationery. It is not open to the general public.
