Rhodia

Overview

Rhodia is a French brand producing notebooks, writing pads, and related stationery, recognized for its orange-covered pads with smooth, acid-free paper since 1934. It targets artists, designers, writers, and professionals who value graph paper, grids, and ink-friendly surfaces. The brand maintains a niche market position through its iconic design and consistent quality standards.¹²⁵

History

Rhodia originated from the Verilhac Brothers family paper business in Lyon, France, around 1880, with the notepad brand launched in 1934 by Henri and Robert Verilhac. Production began in Sechilienne near Grenoble that year, named after the Rhone River. Clairefontaine acquired the company in 1997, transferring production to Mulhouse, Alsace, where it continues on dedicated machinery.²⁵

Product Lines

Manufacturing

Products are manufactured in Mulhouse, Alsace, France, by Clairefontaine on Machine No. 6. Production uses 80g or 90g acid-free, ink-friendly paper with micro-perforated sheets.²

Notable Products

• Orange Rhodia Notepad - Top-stapled pad with coated orange cover, cardboard back, and 80g smooth paper.
• dotPad - Light grey dot matrix pad, invisible when scanned, for notes and sketches.
• Webnotebook (Webbie) - 96-sheet journal with 90g pH neutral paper, elastic closure, and ribbon.
• Premium Notebooks - Bound notebooks in various rulings with high-quality paper.

Reputation

Rhodia enjoys a cult following among artists, designers, writers, and notebook enthusiasts for its smooth, ink-resistant paper, precise grids, and durable construction. Professionals appreciate the subtle guides like dot grids for technical drawing and scanning. Some note higher prices compared to generic options, but quality justifies the cost for dedicated users.¹²