About us
Our Story
Elum was founded in 2001 by Brad and Melissa, a husband-and-wife team, in the heart of San Diego, California. What began as a passion project in their garage, crafting custom letterpress wedding stationery, quickly grew into something extraordinary. Their dedication to quality and design led them to debut a collection of 30 cards at the prestigious National Stationery Show in New York City. This marked the beginning of Elum’s journey, as our unique style gained recognition in top publications and earned several industry awards within just a few years.
Today, Elum is proudly led by a team of award-winning female designers, continuing the legacy of innovation and craftsmanship that started in that humble garage. Our ever-expanding collection includes not only our signature letterpress greeting cards but also hand-poured candles, journals, gift wrap, partyware, ceramics and more.
We’re honored to have partnered with some of the largest retailers and boutique stores across the United States, including T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, HomeGoods, Ross, Papyrus, Paper Source, Anthropologie, Urban Outfitters, Burlington Stores, Macy’s, and Nordstrom.
Our Mission
Our mission is to create products that inspire creativity, evoke emotion, and brighten life’s noteworthy moments.
From the very beginning, we’ve been committed to sustainability and quality craftsmanship. Each of our letterpress greeting cards is printed on 100% cotton rag paper, a tree-friendly alternative that combines luxury with an eco-conscious mindset. Our candles are hand-poured by our team in our home office in San Diego. Each candle is crafted with our proprietary soy wax blend made to fill spaces with unique, signature scents that inspire different moods and experiences.
Our Studio
Our studio is where all the magic happens. Here, our team hand-wicks hand-pours and labels every single one of our candles. Our signature fragrance oils are mixed with our proprietary soy wax blend to create small batch candles.
We take immense pride in our letterpress printing process. Our pressmen use vintage mid-century Heidelberg presses to craft each greeting card with precision and care. Each card bears the mark of craftsmanship and care that is truly unique from other printing processes.
Our award-winning, all-female design team is the heart and soul of Elum. We are proud to have a diverse team of painters, illustrators, and creators who love what we do. Our laid-back and easy-going West Coast lifestyle is reflected in our work, but it’s our attention to detail, passion for creativity, and dedication to innovation that truly set us apart.
We believe that great design has the power to connect people, evoke memories, and bring joy to everyday moments. At Elum, we are honored to share our passion for design with you, one beautifully crafted piece at a time.