What begins in jest often ends in joy, and the story of The Chowmein Guerrilla is exactly that.
A pen lover with a name born of mischief — “Chowmein” for his unabashed love of the humble noodle, and “Guerrilla” because, funnily enough, people would often label him as doing guerrilla marketing, even when he was not. Instead of brushing it off, he thought, why not actually build something around it? And so, almost as an inside joke turned passion project, @thechowmeinguerrilla came to life — an Instagram handle that would soon become an underground passage to the rare and the remarkable, the kind of pens you only dream about unless you are fluent in Mandarin or a wizard of Taobao.
What started as a joke has now quietly fulfilled 50+ direct orders for Indian pen lovers — and counting.
For those unacquainted, this is not a brand, not a business in the traditional sense. It is one of us — a long-time fountain pen enthusiast who, in the spare time left after his full-time job, decided to help fellow community members get their hands on the wonders that the Chinese pen world has to offer. Not the run-of-the-mill stuff — but pens that carry charm, character, and often, a stroke of genius in their design.
Take, for instance, the Ink House Mate.
A piston-filler in ABS plastic, this pen is deceptively simple yet thoughtfully designed — with a snap cap, a faceted barrel, and the solid writing experience of a Bock No. 6 steel nib. Affordable, no-frills, and built to last — it is the kind of pen you do not just write with, but smile at every time you uncap it.
Then there is the Selmy Chinese Urushi pens — labours of love in Ebonite, dressed in hand-applied finishes like Aka-Tamenuri. The one pictured here? A stately octagonal model that oozes quiet elegance. These are pens that can give the more ‘luxurious’ brands a serious identity crisis — and they do it without the noise.
Or the stunning Tangmoon D6, made of premium resin, boasting airtight magnetic caps and seamless aesthetics. Pens that are sleek, contemporary, and full of soul, just like the hands that now hold them, thanks to The Chowmein Guerrilla.
It is not about commerce; it is about connection.
Through this direct ordering service, @thechowmeinguerrilla offers the Indian pen community a rare gift — access. Access to pens that do not show up on the usual store shelves, pens that delight not because they are expensive, but because they’re special.
And like the best things in life, this is done for passion. From one enthusiast to another, with noodle-loving, guerrilla-style affection.
Follow the guerrilla. You never know what beauty he might smuggle into your collection next.