If you are a budding artist or in a profession where you take many notes, I am sure you would have heard the name “Moleskine” by now. When I started as an artist, I used to get a lot of conflicting advice on which colors to use, which pens to write with, even what art forms to start with.
But when it came to selecting a notebook for taking down quick sketches, the answer was always the same: “Moleskine.” I am sure that you too have wondered, like me, “What is special about Moleskine notebooks?”
In this article, I will attempt to answer this question for you. It doesn’t matter whether you are an artist, a student, a traveler, or an office goer. If you love noting down your ideas, dreams, and drawings, Moleskine notebooks are perfect for you. They will give you the quality, durability, and confidence that your ideas are translated to the written form and preserved in the best way possible.
Contents
About Moleskine
I believe that to understand anything truly; you need to know its history. Let’s talk a bit about the origins of this brand.
Moleskine was created as far back as 1986 in the world’s fashion capital and arguably the most romantic city on earth – Paris. The name “Moleskine” is ascribed to the travel writer Bruce Chatwin, who talked about small oilskin-covered black notebooks that he bought in Paris called “moleskines” in his book “The Songlines.”
Unfortunately, the brand had to shut down soon when the artists who created it died. However, it was soon time for the brand to shift its home from Paris to Milan – Italy’s business capital. The Italian businessman Francesco Franceschi brought the brand back to life in 1997 as part of his publishing company Modo & Modo.
From here, the brand went from strength to strength and has become an iconic brand of notebooks, sketchbooks, pens, bags, and other writing accessories. D’Ieteren acquired it in 2016, and in 2018 their revenues were nearly Euro 174mn.
The mix of Parisian art and Milanese business sense has left an indelible mark on Moleskine products. They are designed with the soul of an artist but the form and function of a true professional.
Why Does Moleskine Stand Out From Other Notebooks?
Now let us come to some of the features that lead many to say that “nothing can be more satisfying than using a Moleskine notebook.”
Quality
The quality of the Moleskine notebooks is extraordinary. The notebooks have a leather-like hardcover that protects everything you write from the elements and prying eyes. The acid-free, high-gsm ivory-colored paper gives a regal look to everything you jot down. There is an elastic band that keeps the book bound.
Paper
The paper quality used in the notebooks is best in class. The thick, high-gsm sheets do not bleed ink; instead, they absorb ink without leaving any marks on the other sheets.
The notebooks use various sheets from thickness 70gsm up to 200gsm, with each quality having its own set of media that you can use on it.
Moleskine notebooks contain 100 to 240 sheets. As the sheets are many, you can use each notebook for a long time.
The iconic ivory-colored sheets are the most attractive feature of this notebook. It makes the drawings and the sketches look real and adds more depth to the artwork.
Portability
Moleskine’s traditional notebook is the compact one sized at 3.5 x 5.5 inches, aptly named the pocket size. You can take it anywhere with you while traveling, going to college, going to the office, and more. Writing, drawing, sketching, or drawing ideas become convenient if the notebook is there with you 24X7.
However, Moleskine does produce notebooks in larger sizes as well (more on that later).
Elastic Band
The iconic elastic band on the front acts as a bookmark and keeps your book bound shut. It helps find notes, artwork, and much more; thus, making the notebook very easy to use.
Durability
The Moleskine notebooks are very durable. The sheets are bound together with tough stitching that does not let your notes and artwork come out.
There is a small envelope at the end of the notebook- like an opening that helps you store cards, some substantial loose sheets, and even money. In all, the Moleskine notebooks are expensive but are worth the price.
Variety
The Moleskine notebooks are available in 4 different sizes, from pocket notebooks to medium, large, and X-large. These notebooks are also available in various paper types available in ruled, dotted, plain, and square design.
Hence, it gives its buyers a variety from which they can select what they want. Moleskin also produces some limited edition journals and notebooks that people love. For example, star wars printed, national geographic travelers edition, Moleskine Maneki and Harry potter limited edition, and much more.
Why Must One Use A Moleskine?
Moleskine gives you one notebook to capture many things in one place. Moleskine notebooks are different from their counterparts due to their quality and design. Its compact size is another attractive feature that holds everyone’s attention.
Another quality of the notebook is its elastic rubber band enclosure, which helps store the artwork neatly. Moreover, it acts as a bookmark and helps the user reach out to left undone pages.
The pages are plain; therefore, one can use it as a full sheet. Use every nuke and corner of the sheet to sketch, write notes, and much more. It provides full room to use the sheet as per the requirement.
Many use a Moleskine notebook to write journals, stories, write college notes, and much more. Each one can use the notebook differently.
Now you do not need to find loose sheets to write an idea or an important point that comes to your mind. You can register everything in one place, and there is no chance that you will lose whatever is there in the notebook.
Best Moleskine Notebooks Available On Amazon
Moleskine Pocket-Size Notebook
The hardcover Moleskine notebook is perfect for writing notes, journals, and more. It has an elastic band that keeps the notebook closed when not in use. It comes in a variety of sizes and color options. The pocket-size is the definitive version of the notebook.
- Pages size is 3.5×5.5 inches.
- The pages are ivory colored and are acid-free too.
- One hundred ninety-two pages give you plenty of space for writing.
- Paper is thick and durable.
- Paper does not bleed ink and is long-lasting.
- In the last, there is an opening to store cards and loose sheets of paper.
- CLASSIC MOLESKINE NOTEBOOK: Moleskine classic notebooks are perfect notebooks for writing journals, a daily diary, or note taking in college classes or meetings. Moleskine notebooks are beloved by travelers & bullet journalists for their slim design.
- DURABLE COVER & ELASTIC CLOSURE: Hold writing projects & notes in your Moleskine notebook with an elastic closure band & inner storage folders. Leather-like classic Moleskine cover & thick, ivory paper pages are perfect for writing with fountain pens.
- GIFT QUALITY NOTEBOOKS: Moleskine planners, journals and notebooks come in hardcover or softcover and colors like black, red, blue, green and brown. The binding and cover have a durable finish, designed for daily journaling, writing and sketching.
- DELUXE QUALITY PAGES: Moleskine's thick, ivory paper pages in a hardcover Moleskine notebook, softcover Moleskine notebook, cahier or volant journal, or Moleskine planner are perfectly textured for writing with a ballpoint pen, fountain pen, or pencil.
- MOLESKINE QUALITY: We're dedicated to culture, travel, memory, imagination, & personal identity—both physical & digital. We bring this commitment to our notebooks, bags, apps & smart pens & notebooks.
Moleskine City Notebook Zurich
The notebook has a soft cover and usually comes in a set of two. The pages of the book are acid-free and are thread-bound. There are detachable sheets too that are useful for loose notes.
- Two hundred twenty-eight pages provide ample space to write the notes and to use them for drawing.
- The binding has imitation leather that enhances the look of the notebook.
- Its dimension is 5.60X3.70X 0.70 inches.
- It is highly portable, compact, and weighs 0.45 lbs. You can carry it with ease.
- Moleskine (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
Conclusion
Moleskine is an iconic brand as it delivers quality, design, and styles. These notebooks are available in many sizes and paper types, offering you the flexibility to select the right option for your particular needs.
Moleskine’s paper quality is legendary; it uses acid-free, high-gsm, long-lasting, ivory-colored paper that will keep your work safe for the ages.
Moleskine’s notebook is the perfect companion on your journeys. When you carry a Moleskine, you carry a piece of art and history with you, and you will always be inspired by the artistic legends who used similar notebooks to make their greatest creations.