If you're looking for Japanese stationery in Vancouver, SORT is a small stationery and home goods shop at 2550 Stephens St in Kitsilano. We carry notebooks, pens, tape and desk tools from Japan, along with a smaller selection from Korea and Italy. Everything is also available online at sortdays.com, with shipping across Canada and the US.
We get asked a lot about what we carry and where it comes from. This is a plain guide to the brands on our shelves, sorted by country.
How we choose what to carry
We don't have a perfect formula. The collection grows slowly, one piece at a time. The test is simple: can we honestly recommend this to a close friend? Most things live on our own desks for a while before they make it onto the shelf.
That's also why the mix looks the way it does. Most of it is Japanese, because that's where so many of the tools we use every day come from. The Korean and Italian pieces are fewer, but each one earned its spot.
Japanese stationery
This is the largest part of the shop. A few of the brands we carry:
- Hobonichi — the Hobonichi Techo planners, including the HON and Weeks formats. Planner season starts in the fall.
- Delfonics / Rollbahn — the Tokyo brand behind the Rollbahn spiral notebook, with its elastic band and pocket at the back.
- Penco / Hightide — clips, pouches, pencil cases and desk tools with a utilitarian, vintage feel.
- Craft Design Technology — pared-back pens, notebooks and office tools.
- Midori and KOKUYO — notebooks, paper and everyday office tools.
- Stalogy and ITO Bindery — notebooks and pads for daily writing and drawing.
- OHTO, uni by Mitsubishi and Pentel — pens, gel pens and mechanical pencils.
- MT masking tape — washi tape from a company that started making industrial tape in 1923, then reimagined it with a group of crafters in 2008.
- NT Cutter, Yamato and MIWAX — snap-blade cutters, glue, and desk mats made in Japan from recycled leather.
- TOYO Steel — steel toolboxes that work just as well for pens and art supplies as they do for tools.
Browse everything in the stationery collection, or start with pens and pencils and paper.
Korean stationery and desk objects
Our Korean selection leans toward desk objects rather than paper goods.
- SANRO — pencil holders, tape cutters, trays and mirrors in galvanized and powder-coated steel. Read our conversation with Hyunsoo Choi, director of SANRO.
- Rhombus Lab — functional furniture and objects designed and made in South Korea. More in our Rhombus Lab feature.
Italian stationery and office tools
The Italian pieces are mostly metal office tools. They're simple, heavy and built to last.
- Zenith staplers — designed in 1948 by Aldo Balma and inspired by Italian car design of the time. The design has barely changed in more than 75 years.
- Ellepi — metal bookends, colour clips, staplers and organizer toolboxes, made in Italy. The bookends come in more than ten colours.
- Leone Dell'Era — nickel-plated paper clips, pushpins and wall hooks.
- B-Line — makers of the Boby trolley, designed by Joe Colombo in 1970. It's a storage cart that also works as a desk-side organizer.
Visiting the shop
SORT has been on Stephens Street in Kitsilano since 2017, in an old office on a quiet side street just off the main road. The space is small, and you're welcome to test the pens.
Address: 2550 Stephens St, Vancouver, BC
Hours: Tuesday to Thursday 11am–5pm, Friday and Saturday 11am–6pm, Sunday 11am–5pm. Closed Mondays and statutory holidays.
Frequently asked questions
Where can I buy Japanese stationery in Vancouver?
SORT carries Japanese stationery at 2550 Stephens St in Kitsilano, Vancouver. Brands include Hobonichi, Rollbahn, Penco, Hightide, Midori, KOKUYO, Craft Design Technology, OHTO, uni and MT masking tape. You can also order online at sortdays.com.
Does SORT carry Korean stationery?
Yes, though it's a smaller selection. We carry desk objects from SANRO and furniture and objects from Rhombus Lab, both from South Korea.
Where can I find Italian office supplies in Vancouver?
SORT stocks Zenith staplers, Ellepi bookends and clips, Leone Dell'Era paper clips and pushpins, and the B-Line Boby trolley, all made in Italy.
Do you ship stationery outside of Vancouver?
Yes. We ship across Canada and to the US. For US orders, import duties are included at checkout. Rates and free-shipping thresholds are on our shipping policy page. Local pickup in store is also available.
Is SORT open on Sundays?
Yes, Sundays from 11am to 5pm. We're closed on Mondays.
