Asheville, NC — The stationery world is coming together to support Origami Ink, a beloved stationery store in Asheville, North Carolina, after it was completely destroyed by Hurricane Helene in late September. Retro 51, a renowned pen manufacturer, has announced the launch of a special edition Tornado pen, with 100% of proceeds going toward rebuilding the store.

Jonathan and Cathie Robbins, owners of Origami Ink, shared the heart-wrenching impact of the disaster on their website. “Our physical store in Biltmore Village has been completely destroyed. It’s been devastating for us and has been emotionally hard to process or even get our minds around,” they wrote. “The floodwaters swirled all the way to the ceilings, smashing everything to bits and leaving everything coated in toxic mud.”

Photos of the store show the extent of the damage, with debris scattered and shelves shattered inside what once was a vibrant hub for stationery lovers.

In response, Retro 51 has introduced the Origami Hopping Frogs Tornado pen. The design pays homage to the store’s history, featuring colorful origami frog patterns finished with a gloss varnish and polished chrome accents. The pens come packaged in a matching decorative tube and include instructions for creating your own origami frog.

The inspiration behind the design stems from the Robbins’ personal connection to origami frogs. Over 20 years ago, the couple purchased a framed art piece featuring an origami frog, which later inspired the name of their shop. The artwork remains a cherished part of their home to this day.

Retro 51 has partnered with Mann Inc. to make the Origami Hopping Frogs Tornado pen available in the UK, extending the effort to a global community of pen enthusiasts.

*Note: Pre-orders for this product are now closed.