Best of the National Stationery Show: Gold Foil

I was never much into gold. Whether in jewelry, stationery, or furniture design, gold always seemed to be trying too hard to show off. However, as times change, so do trends and personal taste. At this year’s National Stationery Show, it was the gleaming bits of gold foil that surprisingly caught my eye. I saw this technique at countless booths — a special kind of printing process that uses heat, pressure, and foil to create a slightly raised impression. Many designers showcased gold foil stamping in simple, yet decisive ways, adding a feeling of luxury to their collections. With the metallic accent employed to accompany an abstract pattern, stand alone as a typographical element — or in the case of Ferme À Papier, as a literal translation of the golden ratio — these designs made a case for the allure of gold and changed my mind for good. The following 10 designs are some of my favorites from the show. They’re not showy or gaudy, but are rather beautiful in their simplicity, reminding me of an elegantly dressed woman with just a hint of gold around her neck. X, Emma

Photography by Emma Tuccillo