Our Mills
It is our mission to continue to travel the world in search of the most intriguing and best performing papers - from delicate handmade papers that reveal striking texture and color with every sheet to the most technologically advanced digital printing papers produced today. Following are just some of the mills that we represent. In addition to these, we have over 40 other mills all over the world with whom we work on a regular basis to have papers made to our, and our customers', specifications.
Arches
Made with an understanding passed down through five centuries, Arches papers are a testament to the papermaker's art - and the product of excellent ingredients. In pure French stream water, only the finest natural fibers of cotton, flax, and esparto are used. All Arches papers contain cotton fibers, ranging from 25% to 100%, depending upon each paper's ultimate use. These carefully selected cotton fibers produce uniformity, adaptability, color fastness, longevity, and printability. Free from lignin, acid, and chlorine, Arches papers last.
A Process Tested by Time
All Arches papers are manufactured on a cylinder mould, as they have been for more than a hundred years. This process, in which the pulp gradually settles and drains on a slowly rotating screen-covered cylinder, results in a paper which has a uniquely hand-made look and feel. With long fibers, this thick, stable sheet is beau-tiful, durable and resilient.
Deckle Edges
Arches and Rives papers are recognizable for their four deckle edges, which add another aesthetic dimension to the papers. Two of the deckle edges are formed directly on the cylinder as the sheet is being made. The other two are created in the sorting room, as the paper is unrolled and torn by hand into sheets along a water line, before being hung to dry.
An Eye for Quality
All Arches papers are hand sorted, for strict quality control. The only way to ensure that Arches standards are met is through visual inspection of each and every sheet. Just as it has been done for the last five hundred years.
The Watermark of Authenticity
The Arches watermark is the artists' proof of authenticity and quality, a method as old as papermaking itself. Watermarks are created by hand, by craftsmen who solder or sew the mark onto the cylinder screen, cre-ating a raised area. Less pulp settles in this area, creating a subtle mark of more transparency than the rest of the sheet, whose presence is revealed when held to light. On heavier watercolor sheets, the water-mark is hand embossed. Each Arches and Rives paper features its own unique watermark. Many of them incorporate the sign of infinity, a sym-bol of permanence which reflects the long lasting quality of Arches.
Quality that Lasts
The longevity of a work depends largely upon the quality of the paper used. Acids damage papers and cause them to deteriorate. Optical brighteners can have the same prematurely destructive effect. All Arches papers are manufactured in a carefully controlled, completely neutral environment, with naturally whitened pulp, to ensure that the papers produced are acid-free. Calcium carbonate, an alkaline substance, is added to the pulp in manufacturing to raise the pH, and provide a buffer against environmental acidity.free. Calcium carbonate, an alkaline substance, is added to the pulp in manufacturing to raise the pH, and provide a buffer against environmental acidity.
Arjowiggins Creative Papers
Arjowiggins Creative Papers is a manufactuer of high quality creative papers including the Curious Collection.
We're proud to offer Curious Metallics and Curious Skin. Both papers feature strong color harmonies and provide designers with a fresh and high impact approach to packaging, communication and design materials.
Bertini
Grafica Bertini was founded in 1901 in Florence, Italy by Oreste Bertini and is still owned and operated by his descendants.
The extensive line of decorative papers was inspired by traditional Florentine designs of the Renaissance but also includes contemporary alternatives with more modern and innovative subjects.
Until 1950 the papers were printed using hand lithography, but are now produced by offset printing techniques. The process can include up to 6 colors plus the use of powdered gold which is added in the final manufacturing stage and is unique to the Bertini papers.
We're proud to have been their US distributors for the past two decades.
Cartiere Magnani
Following the finest traditions of papermaking, Magnani's name has become synonymous with the production of paper since 1404 (not a typo). Always well known in Italy, the Magnani name became known internationally in the late 18th century when their papers became a hallmark of quality and luxury.
While technologies have certainly changed in the past 600 years, at Magnani old knowledge and avant-garde technologies work hand in hand. Today, they produce some of the top performing artist papers available including Pescia, Revere and Arturo. They’re also widely known for their ability to create custom papers to meet almost any fine paper need.
We’re proud to have worked with them for over a decade, making countless trips to Tuscany (a hardship, we know) to continue to learn their capabilities and share with them our customers’ needs.
Celloglas
Mirri, a division of Celloglas, has been a leading brand since the early 70’s, specializing in producing quality decorative materials on board, card and paper. Distributed worldwide across a number of markets including packaging, publishing and social stationery, Mirri is widely recognized by brands and designers as a tool to communicate quality, innovation and brand category leadership.
Metallic silvers, golds and colors, holographics and iridescent are just some of the effects available in the Mirri range. From the brightness and reflectivity of Mirri H to the sheer “How did they do that?” factor created by their holographic range. Mirri offers a solution for all projects that want to get noticed.
Fabriano
The invention of paper is traditionally attributed to the Chinese, but it was actually the Arabs who, after having learned the rudiments of manufacture and made a few improvements, spread the new product throughout the west. It was a long, arduous process that was completed in the second half of the 13th century in the Italian town of Fabriano.
The growing ability of the increasingly numerous and qualified artisans in Fabriano allowed them to make a real leap in terms of quality. Three innovations in particular led to the rise of Fabriano as the cradle of modern papermaking: watermarking, the hammer mill and the use of animal gelatin for surface sizing.
This specialty paper manufacturer become part of one of the largest paper manufacturing groups when in 2002 it was acquired by Fedrigoni S.p.A headquartered in Verona, Italy. The very separate manufacturing facility of the Cartiere Milliani Fabriano mill has gone through many changes in the last 15 years.
Once renowned for its wonderful handmade papers such as Roma, Perusia, Umbria & Esportazione watercolor, technology and economic changes in Italy and the rest of the world have reduced the hand papermaking facility to almost a museum-like facility. Today, Fabriano is making handmade paper as more of an art form than an existing stock range of products.
Fabriano has enormous history and deserves utmost respect for its paper-making innovations that have left an indelible mark for other fine paper makers to emulate. Fabriano was the first mill in Europe to use distinctive marks or "watermarks" to identify grades, company brands or makers. The watermarking design (beginning with wax molds) and the implementation process (actual sewing of copper designs to a wire screen mould cover) is a tedious one requiring great skill and engineering for which Fabriano has become proficient. To this point it is no secret that the Fedrigoni/Fabriano group has become one of the leading producers of watermarked security papers and banknotes (Euros & other World currencies).
Favini
A company with a long history of innovation in paper manufacturing, Favini is a world leader in the market of industrial release paper and has significant market share in specialty paper with market leading products for the fashion, design and other luxury industries.
Favini has two manufacturing sites in Italy, near Venice and Milan, employing a total of 500 people.
Favini has always paid attention to ecology. In the 90s, Favini patented Shiro Alga Carta, eco-friendly paper made from algae. In October 2012, Favini launched CRUSH, a break through paper made with by-products from organic products (corn, citrus and kiwi fruits, olives, almonds, hazelnuts and coffee beans) replacing as much as 15% of traditional wood pulps.
Favini’s entire production process is scrupulously ecological; the cellulose used comes solely from regulated, well managed crops and is whitened using Elemental Chlorine Free (ECF) methods. Both of Favini’s production facilities comply with the UNI EN ISO 9001, UNI EN ISO 14001 and OHSAS 18001 standards. www.favini.com
Fedrigoni
Fedrigoni Group is one of Europe’s largest and most established special paper enterprises. Through our portfolio of five key, integrated companies, we manufacture and distribute a wide range of fine quality, technically advanced paper and paper related products. We are a global enterprise, with subsidiaries in seven countries. Through our network of distribution partners, we supply products to more than 100 countries all over the world.
Gmund
GMUND is a small paper mill, specializing in luxurious text and cover papers. The firm was founded in 1829 to create high-quality handmade papers. Today, GMUND is owned by the Kohler family, still using the venerable paper machine installed in 1883, still devoted to the tradition of producing fine papers for extraordinary applications. GMUND develops papers for the designer market.
They are often innovative, in terms of palette and finish. The mill still runs its original paper machine at the low speed of 14 to 48 meters per minute, achieving quality levels that cannot be reached on modern high-speed equipment.
GMUND added a new paper machine to meet the special requirements of the paper marketplace. Both machines are painstakingly maintained to ensure the highest possible performance. Each of the company's one hundred workers is a specialist, and the collective craftsmanship that goes into GMUND papers is a source of great pride. The mill acquires raw materials from all over the world, selected for strength and purity - these also contribute to the ultimate product quality. GMUND places great importance on conservation, from raw materials to ecologically-sound manufacturing to packaging.
Gruppo Cordenons
The earliest records of “Cartiera de Cordenons” paper mill date back to 1630. In 1730, the mill became the official supplier to the Republic of Venice per order of the Senate of the Doges (Dukes) of Venice.
The Cordenons mill continued its reputation of producing the highest quality fine paper for centuries when, in 1984, the mill was purchased by its current owners, the Gilberti family. The Gilberti family completely renovated the mill to its current state-of-the-art facility, committed to the tradition of producing the highest-quality fine papers available.
Today, Gruppo Cordenons is a mill with whom we work very closely. We're proud distributors of many of their papers including Stardream, Plike, Malmero Perle and Canaletto
James Cropper
James Cropper Speciality Paper is the UK’s only truly bespoke specialty paper manufacturer of any scale and one of the world's foremost makers of coloured paper.
Located in the historic English Lake District, they have been making some of the world’s finest papers since 1845. With seemingly endless possibilities for combinations of color, texture and weight, Cropper is a mill with whom we work closely on many custom projects
Japanese Papermakers
Washi, the Japanese word for paper, has played an integral role in Japanese culture for over l400 years. Hand-papermaking in Japan is a tradition that has been handed down from generation to generation usually within the same family. The selection and preparation of the fibers, the construction of the mould, along with the actual formation of the sheets are essential aspects of each paper's character and require many years of devoted study before it is mastered.
Kozo, gampi and mitsumata, native fibers, are most commonly used to produce the sheets which are known for their remarkable strength even when the sheets are very thin, because of the resilience and length of the fibers. The diverse climates and altitudes of Japan in which the fiber is grown produce papers with different qualities. Because of this, certain prefectures have been renowned for centuries for the unique characteristics of their paper.
Unfortunately, because of the modernization and industrialization of Japan, the number of handmade papermakers is rapidly diminishing. Few Japanese are willing to lead the arduous life of the papermaker and choose instead a more profitable career. Many of the papermakers that remain, including those named as "National Living Treasures" by the Japanese government are well into their 80's and their arts are threatened with extinction.
Luckily, the Japanese have not ended their obsession with paper nor lowered their demand for it. Machinemade grades of kozo, gampi, sulphite or combinations of these are replacing some of the handmade varieties, using modern technology to insure the quality and permanence of the sheets. Only the finest materials continue to be used and much of the preparation is still being carried out by hand.
Machinemade papers have made sheets more affordable and more widely available. In addition to papers for printing, conservation and painting, many decorative grades have also been made available, such as the extensive line of Echizen Washi. Hopefully, as the use of Japanese papers increases in the ever growing market, the interest in all forms of their papermaking skills will be rekindled, and some of the world's finest papers will be available for generations to come.
Lana
In the year 1590, Demenge Harlachol founded a paper mill in the Vosges area near a Gallo-Roman settlement named "Villa LANA". He was the first master craftsman for paper manufacturing at LANA. His successors as paper makers acquired a name for themselves through their performance in the production of watermark papers, authentic rag papers and special papers in the 17th and 18th centuries. In subsequent years, special projects included the paper for the Gutenberg Bible and the first issue of the works of Voltaire.
In October 1872, a new factory was built in Strasbourg on a branch of the River Ill, the "Nouvelle Manufacture de Papier". Initially using the name "Papeterie de la Robertsau", in 1925 the "Nouvelle Manufacture de Papier" was the first French Mill to produce cotton made papers from cellulose. Still, their reputation was based on the quality of their papers, which are mainly made for business correspondence.
The LANA mill in the Vosges area was also bought in 1995 by International Paper. Five years later, the two companies merged, which resulted in a consolidation of the operation based in Strasbourg as we know it today. In 2002, the company LANA Manufacture de Papier was founded, from which in March 2007 LANA Papiers Spéciaux resulted, and now belongs to the same group as the German company HAHNEMÜHLE.
Having worked with Lana for nearly 20 years, we are proud to be their exclusive distributors for the world reknowned Lanaquarelle watercolor paper.
Lessebo
The history started in 1658. Lessebo Mill is located in a densely forested area right between large shallow lakes in the inland region of Småland. It is an area characterized by small scale farming and the traces it has left behind. It is also an area with a long and diverse history of production. As early as 2000 years ago people utilized the forest and the iron rich lakes to produce iron. In 1662 Lessebo Mill started as an iron mill; utilizing wood, lake iron and hydropower, which was the first industrial operation in the area.
Slowly during the years, paper took over as the main product. When paper production started in 1693 the first and most important customer was the newly established naval base in Karlskrona.
This was a long time ago and today Lessebo Paper is a mill with complete focus on forest based products with a modern product mix of graphical papers.
Lessebo Paper strives to limit its impacts on climate change and to carry out all its business activities in a sustainable manner. Lessebo Paper has over 300 years of experience in the paper industry and recognizes the importance of producing sustainable, high quality paper. Lessebo believes that the industry has a key role to play in finding sustainable solutions to today’s climate challenges. In order to create a bright future for the generations to come, a shift to a sustainable society is vital. Lessebo Paper has one of the lowest CO2 emissions in the paper industry.
Mohawk
Mohawk was founded in 1931 in upstate New York, where the Hudson and Mohawk rivers come together. Here generations of papermakers honed their craft on fine papers for letterpress printers in the northeastern US.
The company was started when George O'Connor acquired the Frank Gilbert Paper Company at the beginning of the Great Depression. From this modest origin, Mohawk has grown through careful management and investment over three generations of the O'Connor family, and today the company is a thriving business with a global presence and expanding markets.
For Legion, Mohawk is a great resource for many of our custom papers.
Neenah Paper
Headquartered near Altanta, GA, Neenah Paper is entirely focused on the premium paper market. We are committed to producing only superior quality products and developing new technologies that meet the needs of designers, consumers, printers and merchants and ensure that paper remains a vital and vibrant medium of expression.
Neenah Paper has built a tradition of innovation, service and growth since its founding in 1873 in Neenah, WI. Now with three paper machines, the Neenah Mill represents over a century of paper making heritage – a heritage that combines time-honored craftsmanship with advanced technology.
Their brands are among the most recognized in the US paper industry. Legion Paper is proud to distribute Lettra, their 100% cotton paper created for the letterpress market
Other American Mills
While we pride ourselves on working with paper mills around the world, there's a special place in our hearts for papers made in the USA. Legion Paper has been supporting US mills for over forty years. Some our most popular artist papers were created at American mills and continue to be produced domestically. Names like Stonehenge, Lenox, Coventry and Rising continue to be among the highest quality, most popular and recognized papers available today.
As the number of these mills dwindles into the single digits, it's more important than ever to us to continue to show our support, to help them push the limits of their capabilities and work together to create papers that will help keep American papermaking strong for generations to come.
Other Asian Mills
While Japanese artist papers are the most well-known, many other Asian countries have long and storied papermaking traditions. In our pursuit of the most interesting and top performing papers, we've worked with mills in China, Korea, Nepal, the Phillippines and Thailand.
Each country brings its own rich traditions and centuries-old expertise. These papermakers range from small companies making handmade paper in countryside villages to state of the art papermills run by PhD's. We do our best to know the capabilities of each and work with them to create papers for our customers.
St. Cuthbert's Mill
Surrounded by green fields and quiet country lanes of the English countryside, in the beautiful county of Somerset, the St. Cuthberts Mill has been making paper on the same site since the 1700’s.
St Cuthberts Mill is fortunate to have one of the few remaining Cylinder Mould Machines left in the world. It is now over 100 years old, and was originally built in 1907. Their master papermakers are experts in manufacturing high quality mouldmade papers that are archival, and visually very beautiful. This is evident in every sheet of Somerset, Saunders Waterford and Bockingford.
Legion paper is pleased to have worked with St Cuthberts to develop the expanded line of Somerset printing, digital, watercolor and drawing papers, and is their exclusive distributor in the United States.
YUPO®
YUPO® Synthetic Papers are extruded from polypropylene pellets. The process of extrusion occurs in their quarter-mile long manufacturing facility located in Chesapeake, Virginia. The various grades, weights and thicknesses of YUPO® are spun into spools in lengths from 725 yards to 7,500 yards, which are cut in to widths from 6 to 66 inches.
YUPO® is the 100% recyclable, waterproof, tree-free Synthetic Paper with attributes and properties that make it the perfect solution for a variety of marketing, design, packaging and labeling needs.
Artists know that Yupo gives them an amazingly beautiful canvas to work with. Its smooth, bright white opaques and translucents give fine artists a medium that always goes big. This non-paper paper has become our most popular "alternative" watercolor paper.