Supreme x Penco Tape Measure
The original behind the Supreme x Penco Tape Measure is the Penco Penco Pocket Tape Measure — $15 retail vs Supreme's $16.
Supreme vs. Original
About the original
The Penco Pocket Tape Measure is a 2-meter stainless steel pocket tape made by Hightide Co., a Fukuoka, Japan stationery manufacturer founded in 1994; Penco is Hightide's sub-brand for desk tools issued in primary-color powder-coated finishes. The housing measures 40 by 45 by 12 mm, weighs about 35 grams, and carries a printed millimeter scale on a stainless steel blade with a manual return lock and a slide-out hook. The case is ABS plastic with a side belt clip. Supreme's SS2019 version adds a printed box logo to the existing case in red or black; the underlying tool is otherwise unchanged from Penco's standard catalog item. It released March 7, 2019 at $16.
About Penco
Penco is a Japanese stationery line founded in 2000 by Hightide in Fukuoka, Japan, named after a single American-made ballpoint pen that inspired the project. Hightide itself was established in 1994 in Sawara-ku, Fukuoka, and operates Penco alongside its Hightide, Nahe, and New Retro labels. The Penco range covers clipboards, pen cases, notebooks, and desk accessories drawing on mid-century American and European industrial design rendered with Japanese manufacturing precision. The Storage Caddy and Coil Clipboard are the line's recurring items. Supreme has collaborated with Penco on co-branded stationery and storage pieces.
Price comparison
| Supreme retail | $16 |
|---|---|
| Penco retail | $15 |
| Hype tax | +7% |
Questions
Is the Supreme x Penco Tape Measure just the regular Penco Pocket Tape Measure?
The Supreme x Penco Tape Measure, released in Spring/Summer 2019, is based on the Penco Pocket Tape Measure. Supreme collabs sometimes change the colorway or materials; the description on this page covers the original's specs and any notable differences in the Supreme version. If you want the product without the box logo, the Penco Pocket Tape Measure is the one to buy.
How much cheaper is the Penco Pocket Tape Measure than the Supreme version?
Supreme charged $16 for the Supreme x Penco Tape Measure; the Penco Pocket Tape Measure retails for $15. That's a 7% markup — buying the original saves you $1, or 6% off the Supreme price. Buy the original at retail and you skip the hype tax entirely.
Where can I buy the Penco Pocket Tape Measure?
You can buy the Penco Pocket Tape Measure from Hightide Store DTLA. Retail price is $15. The buy links on this page go straight to the product listing at each retailer.
