Manila folders

If you were handed a box of manila folders, this story is for you.

Manila folders

Some time ago, my office had an office manager that agreed to buy only manila color folders. In government, there is a reason for everything and price was the determining factor this time. Manila folders were two cents cheaper than a 4-color version. These folders also encapsulate the government’s mindset of scarcity. 

Manila is a color that you can’t really describe, it is very neutral, simplistic, light but not white. It is handy for labeling, crossing of old labels and sticking a new name for the faceless folder. If you spill some coffee on it, it leaves a mark, but eventually coffee blends in and you can’t really tell if it was coffee or just dirt accumulated over time. Whoever discovered this color for the office filing systems was a genius. Manila color folders are always available at stores. To me this color is a color of government. Faceless, non-descript, boring. Basically beehhhh. 

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