If you’ve been scrolling through Instagram lately, chances are you’ve stumbled upon Thomas Lélu’s viral, witty aphorisms—handwritten in ballpoint pen on plain paper. You’ve probably even shared them in your stories or sent them to friends. A few days ago, I spotted a teaser for a special collection on Smythson’s profile, and couldn’t believe my eyes. Today, it’s official: the collaboration with the French artist is here, and it looks fantastic. I have to say, it’s my favorite project yet. I’m convinced it’s a revolutionary move—one that will inspire more people to reconnect with the written word.
About Thomas Lélu
Thomas Lélu was born in 1976 in Séclin, a small town in northern France. He moved to Paris to study applied arts at the École Nationale Supérieure des Arts Décoratifs, where he made his debut with hyper-realistic paintings. But during his time there, being exposed to the work of conceptual artists like Pierre Bismuth and Claude Closky inspired him to explore new creative possibilities. From that point on, his work began to branch out—into publishing, graphic design, and art direction.
Much of the notoriety he enjoys today comes from his handwritten, witty aphorisms. However, his creative portfolio extends far beyond Instagram: he’s also the author of several novels, including the controversial Je m’appelle Jeanne Mass (2005), and has ventured into filmmaking with short films like Nuts (2011). He also founded La Cité, a gallery in Paris, where you can admire his artworks.
Smythson X Thomas Lélu Collection
Recently, Smythson has joined forces with the French artist to create a capsule collection of notebooks and travel accessories inspired by his iconic phrases. “Working with Smythson is an incredible opportunity. To me, the brand is the absolute authority in its field, so I didn’t hesitate for a second”, said the artist. This partnership hasn’t just resulted in a stylish collection that people are bound to love. In fact, it might also be the spark many needed to start writing more, journaling, or simply putting their thoughts on paper.
The collection celebrates a shared appreciation for writing, travel and the art of gifting with Lélu’s signature phrases stamped across a selection of Smythson pieces: ‘ONE YEAR, 365 OPPORTUNITIES,’ ‘TO DO LIST: 1) LEARN TO FLY 2) FLY AWAY,’ and ‘DO SMALL THINGS WITH GREAT LOVE.’ Thomas Lélu’s name also appears on the back cover of each notebook—a detail that further reinforces the collaboration. The artist was directly involved in the production of part of the collection. “This visit was a very enriching experience. Meeting all the artisans in production was fascinating; there were so many different trades and machines. For me, it is essential to humanize the creative process – craftsmanship is the soul of our profession,” said Thomas Lélu.
Inside each notebook, depending on the model, you’ll find plenty of pale-blue Featherweight paper pages—ready to be filled with your ideas, travel itineraries, memories, or whatever inspires you. In addition to the notebooks, Smythson has also created a series of Panama leather luggage tags, each featuring the same signature phrases by the artist.
If you didn’t already have enough reasons to put pen to paper, this collection might be the perfect place to start. The only question is: what will you fill those pages with?
You can find the collection available on smythson.com