Our story starts in 1976 with file folders, years before portfolio cases or presentation books came off our production line. This chapter follows how those folders changed in look and finish, and what each step taught us. (New to the series? Start with our manufacturing roots since 1976.)
A file folder was never just stationery. For offices, schools, tutoring centres and kindergartens, it's how documents get organised, protected and handed over. That practical start still shapes how we think about products.
Where did it start? Side-label folders
The earliest folders had a simple label on the spine. Write the subject there, and the folder is easy to identify, file and pull out again. For offices and schools, that alone was useful.
They didn't need to be clever; they needed to work. That was our first lesson about storage products: daily use comes before looks.
How did folders start to look better?
With hot stamping, then printing. As customers expected more, gold and silver hot stamping gave a plain folder a more formal look, suitable for certificates, school materials, company documents and promotions.
Black-and-white printing came next: school names, company details, simple graphics or document titles printed straight onto the cover. At that point a folder became a way to communicate, not just to store. It could represent a school, a course, an event or a brand just by sitting on a desk.
What changed with full-colour PP printing?
Colour gave the folder real visual value. Brand colours, school logos, illustrations, event themes and product information could all go on the cover.
That still matters. In Taiwan, tutoring centres, kindergartens and schools keep choosing colourful PP folders because they're practical, affordable and easy to customise for worksheets, course materials, student records, parent communication and certificates. For them, the folder is part of the school's image.
Why does this experience still matter?
Because it taught us materials, printing, cutting and finishing, and how people actually handle these products. A good folder needs stable material, clean cuts, accurate printing and smooth edges. Those details don't show at a glance, but they show in daily use.
The same printing know-how carries into our current range. Logo printing and printed retail packaging are now options on our portfolio cases, presentation books and drafting bags.
How did folders lead to portfolio products?
Step by step. File folders organised documents. Refill pages and display books arranged pages for viewing. Presentation books showed work more professionally. Drafting bags and portfolio cases protected larger sheets. Different products, same idea: practical storage and presentation.
That's why the range suits art stores, stationery retailers, school suppliers, tutoring centres and private-label buyers alike: each needs a version that fits their own market and channel.
Frequently Asked Questions
What's the difference between side-label, hot-stamped and full-colour PP folders?
Side-label folders are purely for organising. Gold or silver hot stamping adds a formal, presentation-ready look. Full-colour PP printing adds branding and visual identity, such as logos, colours and themes, directly on the cover.
Why are colourful PP folders still popular with schools and tutoring centres?
They're practical, affordable and easy to customise for worksheets, course materials, student records and parent communication, and they reinforce the school's own image.
Do you still make printed PP folders?
Yes. PP files are in our printed catalogue, and logo printing is also available on our portfolio cases and presentation books.
Can printing be customised for wholesale orders?
Yes, on OEM or private-label orders. OEM MOQ is 500 pcs per style and size.
Looking ahead
From side labels to hot stamping, from black-and-white to full-colour printing, the folder followed what the market needed. It also became the foundation for our wider range of portfolio and presentation products. Next chapter: when file folders became mainstream.
Looking for printed folders, presentation books or portfolio cases in your own branding? See the catalogue, OEM & Custom, or send us your requirements.