- Craft
- Illustrated greeting cards
Nicole Marie Paperie is the New York City stationery studio of illustrator Nicole Alesi, and it started because of one missing card. When a friend got engaged, Nicole couldn't find a same-sex engagement card, so she made one herself. It is still one of her most popular designs.
The business grew out of a hobby in the early 2010s. Nicole saw that greeting cards needed more representation and inclusivity, and her bright, whimsical illustrations now bring BIPOC and LGBTQ+ representation to cards, stationery, buttons and other paper goods, all designed in NYC. Her advice to other makers is simple: "Start small, stay focused, be patient."
Her Jewish cards bring the same sense of fun. ModernTribe has carried boxed sets for Rosh Hashanah, with florals and apples and honey, and Hanukkah designs ranging from ugly-sweater cards to "Happy Paw-Nukkah" for dog lovers and a "Merry Chrismukkah" card for mixed households. They're printed in the USA.
Good to know
- PressFounder interview, U.S. Chamber of Commerce (2022)
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