Codenamed OUTDOOR, the LAMY safari broke all the rules, from its hard-wearing plastic body to the clip to the comfortable triangular grip. The safari’s design had been informed by deep research into adolescent psychology and a practical assessment of what it would take to endure a lifetime in a teenager’s pencil case, but it soon turned out that the safari struck a chord with more than just young adults.
Though it’s tempting to imagine the safari as an instant success, the reality is a bit more grim. First launched in 1980, the safari struggled to connect with its audience for the first three years of its life, such that LAMY almost discontinued the now-iconic pen due to sluggish sales. Thankfully, LAMY instead introduced a safari with a glossy white finish, and that change almost immediately reversed the safari’s fortunes, setting it on course to the status it enjoys today as a global bestseller and stationery legend.
Made from a sturdy ABS plastic and featuring an ergonomic grip, it’s easy to see why the safari was such a hit. Expanding from the original fountain pen design to include a ballpoint pen, rollerball pen and a mechanical pencil, the safari family continues to be the core of the LAMY range, and a beautiful way to explore the timeless art of the handwritten word.