Colleen

About Colleen

Colleen is a long-established stationery and art materials brand best known for its colored pencils. While the brand traces its origins to Japan in 1916, its modern manufacturing base has been located in Thailand since 1991.[1] In the Philippines, Colleen is a familiar presence in school and office supply sections, particularly through major retailers such as National Book Store, where its products are marketed as being made in Thailand using Japanese technology.[3] The brand is currently operated by Colleen Pencil (Thailand) Co., Ltd., based in Bang Sao Thong, Samut Prakan.[2]

Overview

Category	Information
Brand	Colleen / COLLEEN
Industry	Stationery & art supplies
Best known for	Colored pencils
Origins	Tokyo, Japan
Historical founding	1916
Thai operation established	1991
Operating company	Colleen Pencil (Thailand) Co., Ltd.
Current base	Bang Sao Thong, Samut Prakan, Thailand
Main products	Colored pencils, watercolor pencils, drawing pencils, crayons
Major markets	Thailand, Philippines, and other Asian export markets
Notable recognition	Prime Minister’s Export Award (2006)

The Department of International Trade Promotion in Thailand lists COLLEEN as a Thai-owned brand and records its receipt of the 2006 Prime Minister’s Export Award for colored pencils, drawing pencils, and wax crayons.[4]

History

Japanese origins (1916–1982)

Colleen’s history dates back to 1916, when Hirohachi Akagi established Akagi Hirohachi Shoten in what is now Chiyoda, Tokyo, beginning the manufacture and sale of pencils.[1] This places the brand’s origins earlier than many contemporary stationery manufacturers. As business expanded, the manufacturing facility was relocated from Chiyoda to Adachi, Tokyo, in 1932. In 1947, the company was renamed Colleen Pencil Co., Ltd., formally adopting the Colleen name for its corporate identity.

In 1982, the headquarters moved to Katsushika-ku, Tokyo, while manufacturing operations were transferred to Mitsukaido, Ibaraki Prefecture.

Establishment in Thailand (1991–present)

A pivotal shift in the brand’s history occurred in 1991 with the establishment of Colleen Pencil (Thailand) Co., Ltd. in the Bangkok metropolitan area.[2] The company began pencil manufacturing at this new facility, which is currently located in Bang Sao Thong, Samut Prakan, southeast of Bangkok.[5] Since this transition, Thailand has served as the primary production hub for the brand, supplying both domestic and international markets, including the Philippines.

Brand identity and market positioning

Colleen occupies a distinct position in the Philippine market as a product with Japanese heritage manufactured in Thailand. Retailers such as National Book Store describe the colored and watercolor pencils as “Made in Thailand based on Japan Technology.”[3] This dual identity allows the brand to leverage the reputation of Japanese craftsmanship while maintaining price points accessible to students and hobbyists in Southeast Asia.

The brand is generally positioned as an affordable art and stationery line rather than a premium professional manufacturer. Product descriptions in the region frequently emphasize value alongside quality, making it a common choice for school requirements and casual artistic use.[11] Its extensive color range, spanning from basic 12-color sets to comprehensive 120-color collections, further supports its appeal to a broad demographic of users.[12]

Product range

While most recognized in the Philippines for its standard colored pencils, Colleen maintains a diverse portfolio of art materials.

Core colored pencil series

770 Series: A round-barrel, single-ended colored pencil line available in sets of 12, 24, and 36 colors.[7]
775 Series: Perhaps the most recognizable Colleen product in Philippine retail, this hexagonal-barrel, single-ended pencil is widely available in sets ranging from 12 to 120 colors.[7][8]
785 Series: A round-barrel, double-ended colored pencil offered in sets of 12, 24, 36, 48, and 60 colors.
787 Series: A hexagonal-barrel, double-ended pencil available in 12-, 24-, 36-, 48-, and 60-color sets.[9]
789 Series: A triangular-barrel, double-ended pencil listed in 12-, 24-, and 36-color versions.

Watercolor and specialty pencils

CAP Series: Watercolor pencils with hexagonal barrels, sold in 12-, 24-, and 36-color sets.[3][13]
Specialty Colors: The catalog includes neon, rainbow, and metallic colored pencils (including gold and silver).

Other art materials

Historically and commercially, the Colleen range has also encompassed drawing pencils and wax crayons. These items are specifically cited in export award records alongside the brand’s colored pencils.[4] Oil pastels under the Colleen name are also available in Philippine retail channels.[6]

Manufacturing and corporate structure

The contemporary entity behind the brand is Colleen Pencil (Thailand) Co., Ltd., located at 353 Moo 17, Thepharak Road, Bang Sao Thong, Samut Prakan 10540, Thailand.[5] Industry directories have previously described the Thai company as a joint venture involving Colleen Pencil Co., Ltd. (Japan), B.K.L. Co., Ltd. (Thailand), and Dragon River Co., Ltd. (Taiwan).[10] However, as this information derives from third-party business registries rather than current official disclosures, it should be regarded as historical reference data regarding the company’s ownership structure.

Recognition

Colleen Pencil (Thailand) Co., Ltd. received the Prime Minister’s Export Award in 2006. The award database categorizes the company under “Thai Owned Brand” and cites colored pencils, drawing pencils, and wax crayons as the recognized export products.[4] This government-level recognition underscores the brand’s significance as a Thai-manufactured exporter serving regional markets like the Philippines.

References

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