Eco friendly Lokta paper pocket notebook

Go tree-free with our stunning handbound lokta paper notebooks. Each beautiful handcrafted journal has roughly 50 sheets (100 pages) of paper with a natural texture unique to lokta paper. The items in this collection were ethically handmade by empowered artisan women in Nepal.

Nepali kagaj or Nepali paper, is a wildcrafted, handmade artisan paper indigenous to Nepal. Known locally as 'lokta', the paper made from the bark of a plant known as Daphne Papyrus, which only grows at an altitude of above 6500 ft in the Himalayas. The inner bark gets stripped away in this process, but the root system remains intact and regenerates, making this type of paper a fully sustainable resource.

The bark has to be boiled for eight hours to soften and break down the fibres, and it is then hand-sifted before being pulped into a smooth paste. Every single sheet of paper is handmade by a cupful of lokta pulp being added to a set of wooden/mesh frames. Once the pulp has been circulated across the mesh by hand, the frame is gently lifted to ensure even distribution. The frame is then drained, and the paper dries in the sun (which doesn't take very long for most of the year).

Various techniques can be used to create the stunning patterns and designs you see on our products, including screen printing. Every single sheet is hand-printed using water based paints, and is also dried in the sun.

Once the papers are dried and ready to be bound, the sheets are cut as required. A coloured, textured sheet of paper is then pasted onto a thicker sheet to create the outer cover while the natural paper forms the pages inside each unique notebook. Finally, each book is beautifully bound by hand for an elegant finish.

Size: A6 (approximately 10 x 15 cm or 4 x 6 in), and approximately 120 g or 4 oz in weight

Materials: Daphne Papyrus.

Source: Shakti.ism

Shakti.ism is a British brand that gives Indian Sarees a second life by reusing them into beautiful new items in social workshops in India and Bangladesh.

Fair trade: Shakti.ism is a social enterprise operating in India and Bangladesh. Employees are paid a fair wage as well as additional health and wellness benefits. Shakti.ism regularly visits the locations and consults with their employees.

Environmentally friendly: The items are made from old Indian Sarees that are given a second life by Shakti.ism. For example, many sarees are donated. Local donations are generally from poorer people who donate sarees in exchange for other necessities of life. Or they sell it to Shakti.ism at a low price so that they can use this money to buy basic necessities. Shakti.ism can then save the second-hand fabric from being thrown away and reuse it. Saris can also be donated in Europe so that they can be reused.

Good cause: Shakti.ism works with women who are at risk of being affected by gender-based violence. At Shaktiism these women are given the opportunity to earn their own money fairly in a pleasant environment.