The Clairefontaine paper mills were founded in Etival-Clairefontaine in the Vosges in 1858. The company is part of the Exacompta Clairefontaine group.

It was in 1951 that the famous Clairefontaine notebook, with its varnished cover and purple adjuster, was born.

Today Clairefontaine produces paper, envelopes and notebooks. The company is the European leader in high-end papers for office use.