helvetica

Helvetica

ITOYA

 

創業於1904年的伊東屋,是坐鎮在日本銀座的老牌文具店。逾百年的老店幾年前進行過大翻修後,變身成一家以文具為主軸的百貨公司。在堂堂皇皇的十二層建築內,除了販售各家高檔文具品,自家品牌也同樣是商店主打,其中像「helvetica」這系列,就是伊東屋自家生產品項的熱銷例子。

「helvetica」是一款經典字型的名字,因著其字型樸素,不易造成閱讀時的干擾,所以常被喻作為「透明的容器」,深得蘋果公司、無印良品和3M等國際大品牌厚愛。至於伊東屋把字型名字挪為己用、推出的「helvetica」文具系列,則同樣繼承了這種「透明風格」。當中品項如鉛筆、圓珠筆和文件夾等,尤其適合辦公室情景的文具,而除卻商品的字型採用「helvetica」,其模樣也是偏向低調、實幹的風格,精緻卻不致於浮華;就如同字型本身一樣不搶戲,讓你在案上埋頭苦幹時能夠專心一致。而如果你喜愛高品質的文具,卻不喜歡過多的設計感,那麼伊東屋的「helvetica」應該會是非常稱心、令你用得樂此不疲的一個系列。

Established in 1904, ITOYA is a long-standing stationery store situated in the Ginza district in Tokyo. Having had a major renovation a few years ago, this century-old historic store has been transformed into a stationery-themed department store. Within the floors of this grand 12-storey building, not only do they sell high-class stationery products of various brands, they also feature products under their own brands. A case in point is the best-selling “helvetica” collection manufactured by ITOYA itself.

Well-loved by global brands including Apple, MUJI and 3M, “helvetica” is a classic typeface often being referred to as “transparent container” for its simplicity that makes for easy reading. The “helvetica” stationery collection, which ITOYA named after the font, has dutifully inherited its style of transparency. Items such as pencils, ball pens and folders in the collection are especially suitable for use in the office. Apart from using the actual helvetica typeface in its products, the products themselves are also relatively low-key and practical in style, being exquisite, yet without bordering on extravagance or showiness. True to the font’s style, the stationery items do not steal the show, thereby enabling you to stay focused while burying yourselves in work. If you are a fan of high-quality stationery products, but prefer those without excessive design features, you will probably find ITOYA’s “helvetica” collection immensely satisfying without ever getting tired of using it.

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