The Smartest Splurges

What is a luxury? These days, that answer differs depending on various sociological factors. “While the affluent wealthy continue to indulge in luxury, they can’t hold up the entire industry,” noted Pam Danziger of Unity Marketing. Lower-income aspirational consumers, who account for 60% of luxury industry revenues, have cut spending in the face of inflation, housing costs and employment insecurity as AI threatens cultural-creative jobs. In this climate, Gen Z is gravitating to the second-hand market, fast fashion and dupes. As a result, Bain projects the personal luxury market will have contracted between 2% and 5% in 2025, following 1% in 2024. Thus, 2026 finds the stationery market struggling alongside its gift and home counterparts — but the situation is not without hope. “I have to say, I never get tired of stationery stores. Every notebook is a possibility, a new adventure,” Patti Smith gushed to CBS Mornings as she strolled through downtown Manhattan’s Goods for the Study, AKA her “mecca.” This struck a definite nerve with the 93,772 Instagram users who loved the post! Thus, the expressive, interactive — and yes, affordable — qualities of our medium bestow it with value and yes, even a sense of luxury in the eyes of today’s consumers. After all, slowing down, looking inward and connecting with others offers a sense of peace our screens simply do not. Accordingly, this year’s crop of design trends and product categories is by turns nostalgic, silly and even elegant — but always tactile, and typically with a surprise or two. So whatever is happening in headlines, just remember: Stationery always remains an adventure!

Design Trends

’60S/’70S VIBES

Nostalgia helps make sense of the present by building on our vibrant visual past.      

BELLY-BANDED UP

This simple element instantly adds a sleek, polished note to whatever it encircles — and serves as a silent-yet-informed salesperson on packaging.      

PICKLES

Tongue-in-cheek yet very tasty, these vinegary delights appear on the heels of the butter trend — which is also still melting hearts!      

JUNK JOURNAL FINDS

This crafty pursuit is not simply Scrapbooking 2.0! With the barrier of entry being a notebook, scissors, glue sticks and one’s own ephemera, this soul-enriching process elevates the everyday into a meaningful keepsake.      

THE WASHI WAY

This multifunctional category started with decorative tapes from Japan — but is now officially an American phenomenon tool! Like stickers, it’s nearly impossible to stop with one roll.      

ALL THINGS WIRE-O

After disappearing for several years, this metallic element is reborn as a design detail in its own right. Running across the top, it appeals to lefties, too! From left to right: Episode Stationery, And Here We Are, Rifle Paper Co. and Shorthand.