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 can produce three to eight new, fast-growing shoots making Lokta paper one of the most eco-friendly, renewable, non-tree papers. Also called Nepali Paper, Lokta paper is used for many official Nepali government documents. 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. Known for its durability, Lokta paper is much more resistant to tearing than modern papers. Our paper is not treated with harmful chemicals like today's commercial papers which are treated with bleach. The paper is hand made in the rural, high altitude villages of Nepal and then carried down the himalayas using the traditional paths and pack animals for transport. 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. Lokta bushes are not destroyed when harvested. A good cut from a harvested bush can regrow new shoots that can reach full hight (nearly 15 feet) in about 5 years. Lokta fibers are "cooked" in vats to soften and create a pulp that is spread over wood-framed screens and set to dry in the sun. The fine texture from the screens can be seen and felt in the finished product adding to the beauty and uniqueness of the paper. Lokta paper is acid-free and is widely regarded as one of the world's finest hand-made papers.
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 Himalaya...
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