Welcome to the North American Brown Pen Association.
The NABPA is a not-so-secret society welcoming any and all members to its membership, if those individuals are indeed lovers of brown pens, ink, and other stationery goods in brown colors.
Membership is simple, you need only say aye. Formal membership cards to allow the member to become a “Card Carrying Member” of the NABPA may be obtained at the annual Chicago Pen Show, in-person Hoosier Pen Club meetings, or by asking nicely as one may be able to be mailed to you.
Our Story & Founding
The NABPA started from conversation between friends at the Chicago Pen Show in 2025. Chris Caruvana purchased two beautiful brown pens during the show which sparked the conversation between Chris and Sam over the merits and beauty of brown pens. When discussing this with Ian Schon of Schon Design, he regaled us all with a story of one of his trips to Tokyo wherein he met a lovely Japanese man who excitedly asked him if he loved brown pens and brown ink. He did and he told the man so, which led to his induction into the Japanese Brown Pen Association. And thus led Sam to propose the creation of our own American Brown Pen Association, so named the North American Brown Pen Association to align with the Japanese nomenclature.
Honoring its founding, the NABPA returned to the Chicago Pen Show in 2026. This was the first year the Association actively promoted its existence and enrolled new members. Newly minted members could acquire their own Membership Cards to become Official Card Carrying Members of the NABPA as well as the inaugural enamel pin, two crossed brown pens. The Association met for its first social on Sunday morning of the show wherein members shared camaraderie and love for brown.