crayola

Crayola is an American brand of color and art supplies known worldwide for its crayons, as well as markers, colored pencils, paints, and related accessories. The products are produced by Crayola LLC, a subsidiary of Hallmark Cards, and are widely distributed in toy stores, schools, and online.

Crayola originated in 1903 when Binney & Smith, a Pennsylvania-based company founded by Edwin Binney and C. Harold Smith, introduced the first Crayola crayons. The initial eight-color set included red, orange, yellow, green, blue, violet, brown, and black. The Crayola name is commonly described as a brand creation derived from elements such as craie (French for chalk), crayon, and the suffix ola.

Over the decades, Crayola expanded its product lines beyond traditional crayons to include washable markers, colored pencils, paints, crayons designed for international markets, and specialty items such as Twistables crayons and Color Wonder products. In 2020, Crayola released Colors of the World, a 24-color skin-tone crayon line intended to reflect a broader range of human skin colors and promote inclusive representation. The brand emphasizes safety, color performance, and educational applications.

Crayola maintains a global presence and markets its products to children, families, and educational institutions. It is regarded as a cultural icon in children’s art and has a long-standing role in early childhood education and creative activities.