Collection Elmo 01

The 1920s were a time of renewal, when modernist thinking placed new emphasis on simplicity and craft. Throughout Europe, the bubbling Bauhaus movement was profoundly shaping industrial design.

Rampant demand and scarce materials in post-war Italy were forcing pen factories to innovate. Under pressure to streamline and simplify, experimentation with colour and shaping became the new mantra.

Heinrich Helm’s efforts to pioneer efficiencies in form and fabrication ushered in an era of modernism, with new emphasis on originality and crisp presentation. A century later, his ‘less is more’ ethos still holds up.

Helm’s commitment to the essentials helped transform a fledgling fountain pen factory into an industry leader. Handcrafted materials and honest all-round performance keep his maverick spirit alive.