Nepali Companion Notebook with Handmade Paper and Vegetable-Dyed Cover. Made in Nepal (Medium, Sage)

Price: $15.95
(as of Dec 28, 2022 14:15:06 UTC – Details)

The Nepali Companion Notebook from Kathmandu Valley Co. is made from Lokta paper and has a history rich in ancient tradition. Handcrafted in the Himalayas and used anciently for sacred texts, Lokta paper has been a staple of Nepalese artisans for over 1,000 years. The paper is made from a non-tree source, Lokta bushes, which grow on the southern slopes of the Nepali Himalayas between 5,250 and 13,000 feet. When properly cut, the bushes can produce three to eight new, fast-growing shoots making Lokta paper one of the most sought after renewable handmade papers. The fibrous inner bark is cooked into a mash and then spread by hand on boxed screens and set to dry in the Himalayan sun. The process creates one of the world’s most unique, acid-free papers. Donkeys carry the paper through the mountain passes of Nepal and the paper eventually reaches the capital, Kathmandu, where it is crafted into our journals. Lokta paper has a beautiful texture containing natural flecks from the bush and can vary slightly in thickness from page to page due to the unique handcrafting process. The perfect note-taking companion at home, work, or for your adventures and journeys around the globe. Capture your memories, thoughts or sketches on the 48 unlined pages (96 front/back). The cover is dyed using the time-honored practice of vegetable dyes with a combination of indigo and pomegranate husks for the exterior cover and cutch wood resin for the interior cover. At 5.5 x 8.5 inches, this journal is the perfect size for any adventure. This Himalayan handcrafted treasure supports the talented Nepalese artisans and preserves the thousand-year-old tradition of hand made paper in Nepal. Namaste.

Product Description

The Nepali Companion Notebook from Kathmandu Valley Co. with hand-made Lokta paper has a history rich in ancient tradition.

Lokta paper made by hand on the Himalayan mountainsides of Nepal Vegetable-dyed cover Available in three sizes: pocket, medium, large 48 clean-cut pages (96 front/back)

Lokta Paper – A Tradition of 1,000 Years

Handcrafted in the Himalayas and used anciently for sacred texts, Lokta paper has been a staple of Nepalese artisans for centuries. The paper is made from Lokta bushes which grow on the southern slopes of the Nepali Himalayas between 5,250 and 13,000 feet. When properly cut, the bushes produce three to eight new, fast-growing shoots making Lokta paper one of the most sought-after, renewable, non-tree papers. ​

Traditional Transport

Donkeys carry the paper through the mountain passes of Nepal. The paper eventually reaches the capital, Kathmandu, where it is crafted into our journals.

Maintaining Ancient Tradition

The oldest surviving Lokta paper is a religious text, a copy of the Karanya Buha Sutra Buddhist text, estimated to be 1,000 to 1,900 years old. Lokta Paper is still used today for official Nepali government documents and has been produced in a similar fashion for centuries.

Ready for Adventure

Use your journal to record your thoughts, adventures, notes, or dreams. The slim journal size makes the Nepali Companion easy to take with you in your travels at home or around the globe.

Vegetable-Dyed, Nepali Companion Notebook by Kathmandu Valley Co. with Handmade Paper

Lokta Paper – A Unique Hand-made Process

Handmade Traditional Paper

Once harvested by hand, the fibrous inner Lokta bush bark is cooked into a mash and then spread by hand on boxed screens and set to dry in the Himalayan sun. This process creates a tough, fibrous paper known for its durability.

Himalayan Sun-kissed Paper

The boxed screens create a beautiful and natural texture on the paper with one side screen-kissed and the other sun-kissed. This process creates one of the world’s most unique, acid-free papers.

Natural Flecks from the Outer Bark

The beautiful Lokta paper pages contains natural flecks from the bush and can vary slightly in thickness from page to page due to the unique handcrafting process.

Vegetable-Dyed Cover

Natural Vegetable Dyes are used in the creation of the cover and as such, slight variations in the color are produced from season to season, making each journal one-of-a-kind.

Nepalese Artisans

This Himalayan handcrafted treasure supports the talented Nepalese artisans and preserves the thousand-year-old tradition of hand-made paper in Nepal.

Your Adventure Awaits

An adventure already begun in the Himalayas, this journal is a great note-taking companion at home, work, or for your adventures and journeys around the globe.

Vegetable Dyes used in Creation of the Journal Cover

Vegetable dye from black walnut husks is used to create the beautiful dark brown color in the journals.

Cutch wood resin is used to create the rich Terra Cotta color, creating a beautiful earthen red in the cover.

Dye from Pomegranate skins mixed with Indigo create the lovely sage green color on the cover.

ASIN ‏ : ‎ B01HP2DWQY
Item Weight ‏ : ‎ 3.4 ounces
Dimensions ‏ : ‎ 5.5 x 0.5 x 8.5 inches