Zig-Zag (company)

Zig-Zag is a brand of rolling papers that originated in France. It is marketed in the USA by National Tobacco and in Europe by Republic Technologies. The Zig-Zag brand produces primarily hand-rolled tobacco related products such as cigarette rolling papers, cigarette tubes and rolling accessories. The rolling papers, commonly referred to as "rollies" or "papers" in drug subculture, are also popularly used for rolling cannabis joints, due to the fact that they are easier to roll with.

Zig-Zag products

Cigarette papers: - Made from wood pulp and flax, and uses natural gum Arabic, they come in five sizes. One size is the size 1.0 (single wide). This size is often called "the white pack" because of its color. Another size is the size 1¼, (125, one and a quarter), often called "the orange pack" (or "orangies" in some areas) because of its color. The third size are the kings, or king size, also known for their orange or reddish hue, the fourth is 1 1/2 (one and a half) and the fifth is 2.0 (double wide). Usually the white pack and orange pack are sold together in many stores across the United States. In Canada, the most popular size is the single wide, but with "kut-corners". There are also varieties of these sizes including Liquorice, Water Resistant, Slow Burning and Free Burning.

Cigarette tobacco: Sold in four varieties. This brand of tobacco of canned or pouched cigarette tobacco is not common but can occasonable be found at tobacco specialty shops.

Filtered cigarette tubes: These are filters for hand-rolled cigarettes.

Filter cigarette making machine: This is a basic rolling machine, used to roll tobacco into cigarette papers; it provides an alternative to rolling cigarettes by hand.

Cigar Wraps: Flavored cigar wraps, officially made for use with cigar tobacco, but designed to expand into the marijuana usage market.

History of Zig-Zag

The company was founded in 1879 by Maurice and Jacques Braunstein. Based in Paris, in 1882 the company built the Papeterie de Gassicourt, a cigarette paper production plant near the town of Mantes-la-Jolie. In 1894 they invented the process of "interleaving" rolling papers. They called their papers Zig-Zag, after the term used to describe the zigzag alternating packaging process. In 1900, Zig-Zag was awarded a gold medal at the Universal Exposition in Paris.

Success led to expansion in 1936 to a new mill in Thonon-les-Bains. During World War II, the company's original facility in Mantes-la-Jolie was destroyed and at war's end, all production was shifted to the Thonon factory.

With the death of Jacques Braunstein, in the 1950s Zig-Zag was sold to a partnership of the Group Bolloré and competitor JOB. In 2000, Zig-Zag became part of Republic Technologies of which Group Bolloré owns 19 percent.

Zig-Zag products and hip-hop culture

Zig-Zags are often mentioned in hip-hop culture, usually for their relationship to cannabis. A female rapper associated with Brotha Lynch Hung both from Sacramento, CA went to name herself Zig-Zagg (or just Zagg), making her first appearance on Locc 2 Da Brain, a popular song from Lynch's album Season Of Da Siccness. Artists such as Twiztid, Snoop Dogg, Cypress Hill, Eminem, Curren$y, and Kottonmouth Kings have all used references to them in their songs. In addition many artists and musicians, such as Dr. Dre and Afroman, have used Zig-Zag products in their album art to represent cannabis consumption.

Zig-Zag man

The character portrayed on the front of Zig-Zag products, colloquially known as the "Zig-Zag man", originates from a folk story about a Zouave in the battle of Sevastopol. When the soldier's clay pipe was destroyed by a bullet, he attempted to roll his tobacco into a cigarette using a piece of paper torn from his bag of gunpowder.

In an advertising campaign in the 1960s, Zig-Zag published leaflets with the Zouave facing the viewer (much like Uncle Sam) and the caption, "Captain Zig-Zag wants YOU!"

External links

• Official Website
• Official UK Website
• Group Bolloré company history
• Republic Technologies official website