About handmade paper & lokta
Lokta paper is made from the inner bark of the Daphne (Lokta) bush, which grows wild at altitudes of 5,000-13,000 feet in Nepal's Himalayan forests. This is not ordinary paper — Lokta fiber is naturally resistant to insects, moisture, and mildew, which is why ancient Nepali manuscripts written on Lokta paper survive to this day, some over 1,000 years old. The paper is made entirely by hand in village cooperatives using only water, ash, and sunshine. The Lokta bush regenerates from its root system after harvesting, making this one of the most sustainable paper sources on earth. Products include journals, notebooks, gift wrap, lampshades, cards, and decorative items.
How they are made
Lokta bark is hand-harvested from the bush without killing the plant — the bush regenerates from its root stock within 5-7 years. The bark is soaked in water and boiled with wood ash for several hours to break down the fibers. The softened pulp is beaten by hand or with wooden mallets, then mixed with water to form a slurry. This slurry is poured onto framed screens (similar to traditional Japanese washi) and left to dry in the sun for a full day. The resulting paper has a beautiful natural texture with visible fibers and uneven edges. For decorative products, dried flowers, leaves, or colored threads are added to the slurry before drying. The dried sheets are then cut, folded, and assembled into finished products by hand.