About Time You Met: Taymoor Atighetchi, Founder of PapierBy Angelica Malin

There is nothing better than splashing some cash on a big stationery haul – and Papier are at the top of their game when it comes to personalised notebooks and general office-friendly gear. We caught up with Taymoor Atighetchi, Founder and CEO of online retailer Papier to chat art and design, collabs and what’s next:

Tell us a little bit about Papier? 

At Papier we create high quality, personalised stationery, on demand. Customers can personalise and send beautifully designed cards directly to recipients as well as design and order custom invitations, notecards and notebooks, as well as a fully personalised children’s book. By working with leading artists, illustrators, and designers including Mother of Pearl, Matthew Williamson and the V&A, we can offer an ever-evolving, but highly curated collection of products to our customers.

What inspired you to launch the brand? 

I’ve always loved art and design and was keen to build a brand which combines a strong art and design aesthetic with business and technology. Entrepreneurship has always been a part of my character; at 17 I sold antiques on Portobello Market and then at university I set up an online student media platform The Tab with two school friends. After a few years in management consultancy I knew I wanted to create my own business, and I saw that there was no one doing well designed personalised stationery in the affordable luxury space.

You’ve collaborated with people from Luke Edward Hall to the V&A – how do you choose who to partner with?

We take inspiration from fashion, film and even food! When choosing who to collaborate with, myself and our Creative Director look at the strength of the prints first and foremost. For me, the Mother of Pearl Collection which we worked with Amy Powney on is a triumph of whimsical beauty. Once observed a little closer, the hidden zebras, flamingos, crabs and lobsters can be seen dancing amongst floral motifs.

Who would be your dream Londoner to launch a collection with? 

I have a few. I would love to work with Sophia Webster, Shrimps Clothing and Alice Temperley. We’re actually about to launch a collection with another dream Londoner but I can’t give away who…

What is the hardest part of running a business?

It’s hard to find enough great people to keep up with the rate at which we’re growing. Papier is a family, and I’m incredibly proud of the work my team do. Every day they go above and beyond to build our vision. It’s essential that no matter how fast we grow, we bring on board the best people with a real passion for what we do.

You’re based in Soho – why do you love this part of London?

Soho is just so central, you feel in the midst of both the big retail giants mixed with the new, up-and-coming restaurants and experiences.

What’s the future plans for Papier? 

We have just launched our Papier app, so people can order greeting cards on the go, and we hope to expand this so people can also buy their stationery at the same time.

In London we’re launching the Papier Atelier to connect people to Papier’s world of creativity and design through a series of curated events,;from Q&As to immersive experiences and workshops with artists and artisans. We hope to expand this to other parts of the UK and in Australia this year.

And, finally, we’re looking to expand into other countries in the next few months. Lots of plans for Papier!

Favourite London restaurant: 

Primeur in Stoke Newington. It’s an old car garage that has been cleverly converted into a wonderful restaurant. In the summer the wide double doors are open, letting in a flood of sunlight. Everything from the aesthetic and atmosphere to the food and wine is perfectly balanced.

Favourite place to grab a coffee in London is: 

When I’m at work it’s always our local, Soho Grind. They really know their coffee.

For more information on Papier, visit the website here.