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WidyCat’s National Stationery Show Debut Contributes to Diversity in the Industry

NEW YORK CITY, May 20 2018

WidyCat Stationery & Gifts is excited to announce its National Stationery Show debut this May 20-23 at Javits Center in New York City. Along with its distinctive cross-hatched illustrated cards and prints, the studio is also the only exhibitor to carry a full line of modern greeting cards in Spanish. WidyCat is proud to contribute to the growing diversity in the stationery industry.

WidyCat’s Spanish cards feature wordplays like “Smooches Besos” and “Sapo Verde,” and recall songs our abuelitas taught us like “Cielito Lindo.” Visually, the line fuses Latin American nostalgia with a carefully crafted illustrated look that’s popular with young Hispanics and Latinx.

The attention-grabbing Spanish collection sets itself apart in the stationery market by going beyond the use of a few Spanish expressions to pay tribute to the true essence of Latin culture. This angle appeals to the newer generations of Latinx in the US and across Latin America. As Hispanic spending power rapidly grows, the demand for beautiful and modern products that reflect Latin culture is increasing.

“I noticed that most Spanish language cards just used random words in Spanish but didn’t include or reference real elements that are unique parts of our Latin history,” says Widad Franco, the Creative Director and founder of WidyCat who originally hails from Ecuador. “I wanted to create a whimsical line that included songs, sayings and items from our culture. The WidyCat Spanish card collection is designed for those who know that “Viva!” means “Yay!” in Spanish.”

WidyCat’s wider collection focusses on cards and prints that capture the small, happy moments that happen in day-to-day big city life—like bodega cats lounging on cardboard boxes, street performers playing sweet tunes, and hectic trains packed with colorful characters. True to the brand’s name, there’s also a strong feline presence across the line. (Dogs are included too!) WidyCat’s style is vivid, detailed and colorful, and employs a cross-hatching technique that makes the illustrations brim with life while teasing a smile.

To check out the full collection, visit WidyCat at booth #2449 at the National Stationery Show or head to WidyCat.com.

ABOUT WIDYCAT

WidyCat is a stationery and gifts design studio that’s all about capturing small moments in daily city life. Founded by Widad Franco—and with some inspiration from her tiny rescue kitten Mimosa—WidyCat creates greeting cards, prints and art in New York City.

Widad’s story starts when she was growing up on the sunny coast of Ecuador. But when she was 12-years-old, on her very first visit to New York, she saw the Rockerfeller Center Christmas Tree light up. She was bewitched.

A move to this magical city of her dreams saw Widad pursuing a career in TV news that involved reporting on space rocket launches at NASA, witnessing chocolate making techniques in the Amazon, and hitting the campaign trail with presidential candidates. These events became sources of inspiration for her art as she decided that a life spent drawing was really the one meant for her.

Today, Widad creates art that channels her unique life experiences through a whimsical lens. In her illustrations, the vivid colors and vibrant textures that surrounded her in Ecuador meet the giant skylines and grand old buildings of big cities. Her watercolors are embellished with ink cross-hatching to conjure a playful style that catches the eye and teases a smile.

WIDYCAT FACTS & FIGURES

WidyCat Stationery & Gifts was founded in 2015 and released its first card line the same year.
All art is illustrated and designed by Widad Franco.
The art is reproduced by a local arts printer in New York City. All items are cut and assembled by hand.
The line offers over 170 designs sold via various distribution channels: WidyCat.com, craft markets and retailers (wholesale).
The first sketch for the Spanish line was produced and presented to customers in 2017. The full line—which currently comprises 11 card designs—launches at the National Stationery Show.
The studio takes commissions and customizations for individuals as well as for retailers.
Widad’s 2018 Cat Calendar was honored with an excellence award at the 2018 Cat Writer’s Association Awards.
WidyCat Wedding Bond and Smooches Besos Cards are finalists for BEST NEW PRODUCT at NSS 2018.
Widad also runs the Tiny Market, a local female-focussed craft market in Queens, New York City.
Mimosa is the CFO (Chief Feline Officer) of WidyCat. She is a six-year-old Tabby Mackerel rescue.