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. The paper is handmade by adding lokta pulp to a set of wooden/mesh frames.
Once the pulp has been spread 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 most of the year). 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. Various techniques can be used to create the stunning patterns and designs you see on our products, including screen printing.
The items in this collection were ethically handmade by empowered artisan women in Nepal.
Size: A6 (approximately 10 x 15 cm or 4 x 6 in), and approximately 120 g or 4 oz in weight
