Review - Filofax Garden Personal

I am a stationery addict, I will happily admit, and I do love the Filofax branded organisers above all other organisers. When I saw this new(ish) release from them, the Garden in the 'colour' dusk, I decided I needed to buy it. I won't even bother explaining how I rationalised this purchase, just accept that I did, and here it is.

dark green with flowers, Filofax ring binder organsier
Filofax Garden - Dusk -  personal size



I ordered the organiser - and some accessories, (don't judge me), from the Filofax online store in Australia and they arrived about a week later, which is pretty good. The organiser itself was $79.95 (AuD), which given how it is constructed I found was a bit pricey, (Officeworks in Australia for example has Otto branded ring bound organisers of better construction for under $20 (AuD)) but one is paying for the brand.

Let's get to the review.


The acetate slip cover in the packaging has a gold sticker delcaring the 100th year of the FIlofax - wouldnm't it have been just that bit more special if that had been a badge ON THE Filofax itself? - Come on Filofax up your game! I woud have loved this to have had the badge embroidered or printed on the organiser. What a keepsake that would have been

picture of a gold round ticker with 'filofax 100 years'
Packaging of the Filofax showing the 100th year sticker


The organiser is a nice compact chunky creature, with a gorgeously gothic dark green mysterious dark garden style vibe on the cover. It is made from some sort of softish synthetic material, and has gold foiled dabs here and there. The stud fastener is hidden (as in there is no actual external stud button as in some of the Filfaxes) and the rings are standard silver tone and are 23 mm. \


Picture of a Filofax ring bound organiser in dark green with small pink flowers
Filofax Garden in dusk - personal size

The fly leaf is clear acetate and then there is a sheet of paper to put your name. I feel again that this is a missed opportunity from Filofax, the fly leaf could have had the '100 year' logo on it, and made this Filofax quite the collectors item.

inside a ring bound Filofax, the fly leaf to write one's name
Fly leaf

The FIlofax comes with the standard inserts of a week on two pages, some sample coloured pages,  To Do lists, address section and some paper dividers. The organiser inside, is a pink with coloured flecks pattern ( I am not a fan of the pink, I think something equally as dark as the exterior would have been better), and features six card pockets and a slip pocket in the front  and a vertical notepad pocket and pen loop on the right side.

inside a filofax ring binder, showing the rings
Inside the Filofax, silver toned 23 mm rings



Here is where I get a litle disappointed ... and feel the manufacturing is not as good as one would normally expect from this brand, even for the cheaper ranges. The lining of the pockets is the cheap synthetic woven fabric that easily rips away from binding. This right out of the box already has loose threads and a not too secure lining. Thus type of lining is often found in those 'Dollar Store' cheap knock off wallets, yuo know the kind? They look cool, cost you $5, and then sfter a week of use your coins fall out as the pocket lining has come away.

The pockets are lined with cheap synthetic fabric

I digress.

Other than the inside being pink and the lining being sub par, the organiser is cool, and I bought some matching acccessories for it as well. I will do a post on another day on my set up of this one.







All up I am happy with this purchase, although I think the lining material really let this orgainser down. The matching accessories is a nice touch, and I can't wait to set up this new Filofax!

Have you bought this Filofax? what are your thoughts on it? Feel free to comment below!

If you want to see more posts about Filofaxes and planners please see the index to those topics in my blog to the left of this post, and also I highly recommend you visit Philofaxy.


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