New nerd haven opens at Greenbelt 1

Moleskine fans have reason to celebrate: an exclusive nine-meter flagship store featuring the complete range of Moleskine products opened recently at National Book Store, Greenbelt 1.

Last Tuesday, June 22, Fred Cheng and Ryan Lai of Working Unit Hong Kong, the firm that handles Moleskine in Asia, and National Bookstore’s Trina Alindogan opened the virtual nerd haven filled with wall-to-wall notebooks and other fine paper products.

You may already know that Moleskine was the notebook used by painters Vincent Van Gogh and Pablo Picasso, and writers Ernest Hemingway and Bruce Chatwin.

Moleskines were originally produced by a group of French bookbinders for independent stationery shops.

The last of these shops, a tiny store on Rue de l’Ancienne Comédie, shuttered its doors in 1986.

Legend has it that before English writer Bruce Chatwin moved to Australia, he went on a hoarding spree of these notebooks at the last shop and could not get enough.

In 1998, a Milanese stationery maker revived Moleskine and has since expanded the line to planners, city guides and specialized journals.

My favorite is the ruled pocket notebook which I take everywhere with me. It’s the size of a passport and perfect for jotting down thoughts and notes while on the go.

During my trip to Coachella this year, I used the notebook to write down my favorite acts for the day and take note of the best performances and even the yummiest food stalls around the concert grounds.

Writer Cecile van Straten recommends the City Notebooks, which include city-specific maps with details on different the city’s districts, popular destinations, street indices and subway guides. It’s a great way to organize trips and preserve memories.

“The City Notebooks are my favorite things. I have a notebook for Tokyo and another one for Hong Kong where I list down favorite stores, restaurants, hotels, and phone numbers,” Cecile says.

“It looks like National Book Store has the complete library, which is amazing because Tokyo is really hard to find and here they easily had five copies.

“I recommend it to those who love traveling. Pick a City Notebook on the place you are visiting. Research online on things you want to see or do and write them in your Moleskine.

“Fill up your notebook with discoveries as you go along your trip. It serves as a memory book and a personalized guide to take along on your return.”

Now Moleskine introduces its latest range called the Folio Professional collection of unbound paper products such as memo cards, folder envelopes, ring binders and loose printable paper.

The line was designed specifically for the creative professional, focusing on high-quality materials and a modern design aesthetic.

As a paper lover, it’s not difficult to fall in love with the loose memo cards and the folder envelopes with their sleek black simplicity.

Visit the Moleskine flagship store only at National Book Store, Greenbelt 1, Makati.