The Story of Rhodia
SINCE 1934
Rhodia’s history begins in Lyon, France, in the early twentieth century.
Founded by brothers Henri and Robert Vérilhac, the brand grew from a family tradition of paper merchants into one of the world’s most recognisable names in writing pads.
Papeteries Vérilhac Frères
In 1932, the stationery firm Papeteries Vérilhac Frères was established in Lyon by Henri and Robert Vérilhac.
Coming from a family of paper merchants, the brothers built their business around the trade of paper and stationery, supplying notebooks and writing materials across France and North Africa.
The Introduction of the Rhodia Pad
In September 1934, the company introduced the Rhodia head-stapled pad.
Its distinctive design — featuring strong head staples, precisely perforated pages and a cover that folded neatly behind the pad — quickly made it popular among writers, students and professionals.
Pictured: A store window display announcing the arrival of Rhodia products
A Name Inspired by the Rhône
The name Rhodia is inspired by the Rhône River, which flows through the city of Lyon where the company was founded. People from this region are traditionally known as Rhodanians.
The name reflects the brand’s origins in the Rhône region and has remained closely associated with Rhodia’s identity and French heritage ever since.
Pictured: the original Rhodia production site on the banks of the Rhône in Lyon
The Two Fir Trees
Rhodia’s emblem — two fir trees —symbolises the founding brothers.
According to company lore, the logo was sketched in a single stroke by Antonia Vérilhac, the wife of Henri Vérilhac.
Today, the symbol has become inseparable from the brand, and Rhodia is affectionately referred to as 'the brand with the two fir trees'.
A New Chapter with Clairefontaine
In 1997, Rhodia joined the Clairefontaine group, one of Europe’s most respected paper manufacturers.
This partnership strengthened Rhodia’s connection to French paper making and brought together Clairefontaine’s expertise in producing high-quality paper with Rhodia’s well-established stationery designs.
Pictured: The Clairefontaine paper mill located in Étival-Clairefontaine, France.
Rhodia Today
Today, Rhodia products are used by writers, designers, students and professionals around the world.
While the range has expanded, the brand remains closely associated with the simple design and exceptional paper quality that defined the first Rhodia pad in 1934.
From The Archives
Historical photographs of the Rhodia story
Henri Vérilhac, co-founder of Rhodia, with his wife Antonia.
Papermaking machinery producing paper for Rhodia
Workers handling freshly produced sheets of Rhodia paper at the mill
Workers producing stationery at an early Rhodia manufacturing site
A Rhodia in-store display from the 1950s