Clairefontaine, founded in 1858, is Europe’s only paper manufacturer still producing its own product. The factory in Étival-Clairefontaine, France, remains in operation today, a testament to its enduring legacy and commitment to quality.
Clairefontaine began manufacturing traditional stationery in 1880, adding notebooks in 1890. In 1950, they began producing what has become the iconic lesson books for French schoolchildren.
Today, Clairefontaine’s reputation extends beyond its beloved notebooks, journals, and stationery to include highly regarded fine art papers for all mediums.
Clairefontaine produces the velvety, 90g paper for its notebooks and pads in-house at its factory in France. Available in bright white and ivory, the paper is exceptionally smooth, providing a unique writing experience. It’s also sustainably sourced, PEFC and FSC certified.
Clairefontaine is also renowned for its exceptional art papers, many manufactured with Schut paper. For over four centuries, the historic Schut Paper mill in the Netherlands has crafted fine art papers of unparalleled quality. Since its acquisition by Exacompta Clairefontaine in 1998, Schut Paper continues to uphold the meticulous paper-making traditions that have defined its legacy. Clairefontaine’s current collection is produced with the same care and quality that distinguished Schut during the Dutch Golden Age, when they supplied paper to master painters, including Rembrandt and Vermeer.
