Review CHUS EXCLUSIVE Journal: A Mark Of Distinction

The CHUS EXCLUSIVE Journal is a special name reserved for this premium and limited-edition product line. It sounded so appealing that I got one before it sold out. Now, let's dive into the review of this journal!

Unboxing the CHUS EXCLUSIVE Journal

The CHUS EXCLUSIVE journal, a name reserved for premium and limited-edition products, is as intriguing as it sounds. I managed to get my hands on one before it sold out, and now, let’s dive into the review of this exquisite journal!

When the journal arrived, it was packaged in a box with a metallic crane design label. This label is typically reserved for limited-edition "CHUS EXCLUSIVE" products, adding a touch of luxury to the experience.

Inside the box, alongside the journal, there was a postcard and a card from Pilgrim. The card details the collaboration between CHUS and Pilgrim, featuring signatures from the artisan Charlotte Zaslavsky and CHUS CEO Song Injoon, affirming its exclusive status.

CHUS EXCLUSIVE limited edition journal gift box

Additionally, the box included scented paper and decorative layers beneath, so if you’re gifting it, no extra wrapping is necessary—you can present it as-is or add a personal note for the perfect touch.

Overall, I was very satisfied with the packaging. It exceeded my expectations, as I anticipated only receiving the journal but was pleasantly surprised by the inclusion of these exclusive extras.

Review of the CHUS EXCLUSIVE Journal

From what I’ve gathered, each journal cover is hand-crafted by the artisan from various materials collected from different places. This results in a unique and interesting design for each journal. The cover of the journal I received is made of cotton paper with a thick lining, giving it a sturdy and durable feel.

Premium and elegant CHUS EXCLUSIVE journal cover

The journal contains 120 pages of high-quality smooth paper. The paper feels very smooth to the touch and has a satisfactory thickness. It’s worth noting that the journal uses completely blank paper, which can be both an advantage and a disadvantage. However, the journal comes with two lined sheets to assist those who prefer lined pages (I’ll discuss this further in the writing experience section).

In summary, I’m very pleased with the journal. The cover is attractive and robust, and both the quantity and quality of the paper meet my needs. The journal is approximately A5 in size and slightly thicker than many others on the market. To give you an idea, the thickness of the paper is comparable to a typical charger. It feels comfortable to hold—neither exceptionally light nor heavy—making it easy to carry or hold by hand.

CHUS EXCLUSIVE fabric journal Size

Writing Experience with the CHUS EXCLUSIVE Journal

Let’s dive into the writing experience with this journal:

Writing with a pencil was flawless. The smooth, appropriately thick paper allowed for clean, smooth strokes without any smudging or unevenness.

Pencil writing experience on CHUS EXCLUSIVE fabric journal

The experience with a ballpoint pen was similarly smooth, even better than with fountain pens. The fluidity of ballpoint pens made note-taking quicker and more efficient. 

Ballpoint pen writing experience on CHUS EXCLUSIVE fabric journal

While the paper quality is good, using a fountain pen requires a light touch to prevent ink smudging and paper roughness. Nonetheless, it performs better than many other journals on the market.

The journal is suitable for fountain pen writing

As mentioned earlier, this journal features completely plain white paper, providing a quite spacious writing area. If you work in design or creative fields, this journal is ideal for sketching your drawings or jotting down your ideas.

On the other hand, since I use it for taking notes or making written observations, the included lined paper insert is a valuable “tool.” When needed, you simply place the lined paper under the page you’re writing on; the lines will appear through, helping you to write straight and organized. This feature is quite interesting because your writing remains neat and spacious without visible lines after removing the lined paper. Therefore, I consider this design a significant advantage.

Each notebook comes with a lined guide

The journal features a rigid cover, which is useful for writing without a stable surface. This is particularly convenient for meetings or outdoor writing.

Recently, I took the journal to a café with a small table, where my large laptop left no space for the journal. However, I managed to use part of the journal’s cover as support, and it still provided a stable writing surface. Kudos to the production team for creating such a versatile product suitable for various users.

Sturdy journal for use without a writing surface

Why is the CHUS EXCLUSIVE Journal limited to 100 Copies?

The CHUS EXCLUSIVE journal is available in only 5 unique versions. According to CHUS, each cover design is inspired by a different region and is hand-crafted by artist Charlotte Zaslavsky. The five versions include: Seigaiha from Japan, Waves from Hokusai’s paintings, Flower Press from Katharine Watson’s artwork, Akoma Geo Grid from the USA, and Field of Flowers from France. The rarity of these materials is the reason for the limited editions.

Here are images from Chus.vn showcasing the different versions of the journal: 

CHUS EXCLUSIVE journal limited to 100 editions

Pros and Cons of the CHUS EXCLUSIVE Journal:

Pros:

• Attractive, rare cover designs.
• Sturdy, high-quality cover.
• Excellent paper quantity and quality.
• Complete and well-executed packaging.

Cons:

• Available as a one-time release only.
• Blank pages require additional lined sheets for precise writing.
• The thicker A5 size may not be ideal for those seeking a compact journal.

Conclusion

In conclusion, the CHUS EXCLUSIVE journal is a high-quality product both in terms of functionality and aesthetics. However, I’m giving it a 9 out of 10, deducting one point because it’s a one-time release, which might make it difficult to purchase again in the future.