A scene from a school market in Kozhikode.
| Photo Credit: K. Ragesh
South Korean and Japanese-inspired stationery is sweeping across the State more than ever before, with students preparing for the new academic year on June 1. And, it has become one of the standout trends this season.Stoked by the global reach of K-pop on social media and digital culture, the craze runs deeper than in past years in the younger Gen Z. Sanrio characters, K-pop designs, and soft pastel aesthetics are driving it further, particularly among young girls. Kawaii, the Japanese word for ‘cute’, captures exactly what these products are selling.T.M. Savitha, a student from Kannur, said, “I usually watch Japanese and Korean channels on YouTube, and that’s where I first became aware of these stationery items. I gradually developed a liking for them.”The Internet plays a major role in the popularity of these items, influencing this generation. “I prefer minimalistic stationery that is not just cute but also functional, and when it comes to bags, I use the recently trending Korean bags,” said Rukiya Nashwa, a 15-year-old from Kasaragod.Many students are now drawn towards stationery items that are not only aesthetically pleasing but also functional. “Most of my friends now prefer pastel shades such as light pink, lavender, beige, and light blue for school bags and pouches. Subtle and minimalist designs have become more popular than heavy prints. We also look for sleek and easy-to-carry water bottles,” said Ijene Jojo from Ernakulam.The growing popularity of these trends reflects changing student preferences. “From bold, bright colours to soft pastels, stationery choices have evolved over the years,” said a shopkeeper.However, not all students follow the pastel trend. “I mostly prefer dark-coloured bags and pouches, and many of my classmates have similar choices. There is now a certain uniformity in the stationery items used by students,” said Noel Sojan from Kottayam.He added that most shops offer very similar designs when it comes to bags, water bottles, and other stationery. Many stationery shops on S.M. Street, Kozhikode, offer items that have a distinct similarity in colour palettes and design patterns, limiting the variety of choices available to students.Meanwhile, younger children continue to favour bright-coloured and cartoon-themed stationery items. Bags and pencil boxes featuring Disney characters, Marvel superheroes, Paw Patrol, and Motu Patlu remain among their top choices.“My son tends to change his preferences every now and then, but having characters such as Spider-Man and Superman on his bags gives him more interest in going to school,” said Shamna Minaz, a parent from Kozhikode.Ms. Minaz also noted how school accessories have transformed over the years. “Tiffin boxes have changed a lot since my time. We only had simple stainless-steel tiffin boxes, but now they come with cartoon character prints and even name customisation, while maintaining the same safety stainless steel gives,” she said. Published - May 30, 2026 07:36 pm IST
