Berlin's "I Like Paper"

Longtime readers may recall that last May I happened upon a storefront in Berlin called I Like Paper that specialises in custom-printed items made of Tyvek.

This fall, with some sketches in-hand, I decided to order something from them. Using their web-based tool, which has a slightly-more-than-comfortable learning curve, but which is quite capable, I uploaded a sketch of a sunflower I made this summer, and chose to have it printed on a large pencil case. Cost was €15.95 plus (nominal) shipping. I placed the order on November 16, 2017 and the package arrived yesterday, November 30; 15 day turnaround from Berlin to Charlottetown for custom printing is about as good as it gets.

I’m very happy with the result: the colours are rich and vibrant, the stitching and the zipper are good-quality, and the Tyvek seems indestructible.

Here’s what it looks like:

A couple of things to realize if you decide to place your own order:

1. Although the website and the ordering tool are available in German, French and English, things switched back to German for me at inconvenient times along the process without explanation, and it would appear, temporarily, as though I’d lost the contents of my shopping cart. I muddled through and it all worked out in the end.
2. It’s not immediately obvious that the custom printing is on both sides of whatever object–pencil case, wallet, etc.–you choose. I was pleasantly surprised by this.

If you happen to be in Berlin in person, drop in and see their shop: they’re at Reichenberger Str. 116, in the heart of an interesting neighbourhood.