Cohoes, NY — In October 2021, Mohawk Fine Papers, Inc., North America’s largest privately owned manufacturer of fine papers and envelopes, introduced Paper With a Plan: A new attribute-driven approach to specifying paper. Mohawk refined and reorganized its paper portfolio into 5 distinct Collections that help make choosing paper by its properties and attributes easier. Mohawk’s paper grades are now grouped into the Beautiful, Sustainable, Expressive, Elevated, and Practical Collections.

Mohawk’s Elevated Collection is comprised of papers made from cotton and premium fibers for artful, elevated stationery and letterpress.

It is Mohawk’s belief that nothing compares to the plush, tactile feel of paper made with cotton and premium fibers. The Mohawk Elevated Collection brings together a group of iconic papers that take printed communication to the next level with subtle elegance and craftsmanship in equal measure.

Traditionally used in stationery and letterpress, these papers lend a sense of permanence and gravitas to art and print design, pairing beautifully with embellishments such as embossing, engraving, and foil.

And what better way to demonstrate Elevated papers' inherent sophistication and sociability than using them to make mail art.

Mohawk Elevated Collection: The Art is in the Mail
In May of 2022, Mohawk launched a new series of inspiration pieces to inspire and educate the design community. The new design series is a nod to Mohawk’s renowned Maker Quarterly’s approach to storytelling centered around a singular idea or concept. The first in this series, "Make a Memory," tells the story of Lost Art Salon, a San Francisco-based gallery specializing in the rediscovery of historically significant artists who have been lost to time, on paper from Mohawk’s Beautiful Collection. The second edition in this series, “The Material is the Message,” represents the Sustainable Collection by telling the story of a different installation, dwelling, sculpture, object, or other artifact that is created using alternative materials or methods.

The third installment of the inspiration series is “The Art is in the Mail,” an ode to mail art that includes 6 separate components on 6 different Mohawk Elevated Collection papers.

“Mail art is kept alive through any exchange of art whether it be a painted envelope, an artistamp, or the addition of collage to a postcard or other correspondence via post,” shares Casey Allen, Marketing Director at Mohawk. “Art in the mail is ultimately accessible to anyone who can afford the postage stamp, open to the artist's interpretation, and a delight for the recipient to open.”

“We hope that ‘The Art is in the Mail’ inspires people to look at paper and post differently and to elevate their everyday correspondence,” Allen adds.

ENVELOPE
Paper: Crane's Crest, Kid Wove, Pearl White, 80T / 118gsm”
Ink and process: Printed match yellow and blue

STORY BOOKLET
“The Art is in the Mail"
Paper: Crane's Lettra, Impress, Light Pink, 90C / 243 gsm
Process: Diecut, printed match orange and gold

NOTECARDS
Notecard #1
Paper: Strathmore Writing, Wove, Ultimate White, 88CB / 238 gsm
Process: Diecut, four-color process, orange foil

Notecard #2
Paper: Crane's Lettra, Impress, Light Gray, 110C / 297 gsm
Process: Diecut, letterpress, match blue, match green

Notecard 3#
Paper: Crane's Lettra, Impress Digital with i-Tone, Light Aqua, 104C / 281 gsm
Process: Diecut, thermography, digital printing

POSTCARD
Paper: Strathmore Writing, Wove, Soft Gray, 88CB / 238 gsm
Process: Letterpress, match purple

The Elevated Inspiration Piece "The Art is in the Mail" was printed by The Occasions Group of Mankato, MN and designed by Hybrid Design of San Francisco, CA. To receive the Elevated Collection inspiration piece, contact your Mohawk Representative or if you do not have a Mohawk Representative, you can request or order these resources online through mohawkconnects.com.

For more information on Mohawk’s Elevated Collection visit mohawkconnects.com/collection/paper/elevated-collection. To learn more about all of the Paper With a Plan Collections visit mohawkconnects.com/paperwithaplan or go to mohawkconnects.com/collections to find the right paper for you.