I don’t know how many of you know this, but I used to (and still) LOVE notebooks, pencils, pens, etc. So, when I got an invite to check out the new APPOINTED brick and mortar in Ivy City, DC, I jumped at the opportunity.
All of their products are American-made, and most of their line is manufactured and assembled in DC. The brand was first established in 2015, and it’s female and AAPI-founded. This was the first time I heard of their brand, but after experiencing their Notebook Bar, I’m sold.
You start by choosing your bookcloth cover. There are several colors available, and you can browse swatches to facilitate the process. It was a tough call between chambray blue, blossom pink and lavender gray, but I ultimately went with the latter because it was so, so beautiful.
Then, you figure out what you want on the interior. I only really use lined notebooks so I went with that, but you have the option of getting half lined, half grid, half blank, whatever your heart desires.
And the last step? Monogramming. Choose from two fonts (sans-serif or serif) and get up to three characters. I thought about getting “KIM,” but decided to get my initials instead. So there you have it! With the holiday season right around the corner, this would make an awesome gift, but it’s also just a really fun activity to do with friends. The whole process takes 10-15 minutes max (depending on the wait) so you walk out with your customized goods at the end which is nice.
Part of their mission’s also to give back to the community, and with Appointed Gives Back, they encourage the support of local communities through the purchase of products that give back to various organizations like their DC Workbook (supports Girls on the Run DC), their Journal for Change (supports the Loveland Foundation, The Conscious Kid, BEAM), and the New District Notepad (supports World Central Kitchen).
Their flagship store officially opens on October 14th so make sure you mark your calendars. The founder, Suann Song, mentioned that APPOINTED was her childhood dream come true, and I loved seeing the space and hearing about her many, many successes. I’m beyond thrilled to support a fellow Asian-American woman, and I hope you guys will go support as well!
I haven’t had a chance to take a picture of my new notebook, but I’ll most likely post about it on instagram. Let me know if you have any other questions, and make sure to browse my “DC/MD/VA Fun” tab to read more about my latest adventures.
