Handmade, Not Factory Made

Lokta paper doesn’t come from machines. It comes from hands—skilled, patient hands in Nepal’s mountain villages. The process is simple but full of tradition, care, and respect for nature.

Let’s take a look at how lokta paper goes from wild bark to beautiful, ready-to-use paper.

Step 1: Harvesting the Bark

Lokta paper starts with a plant called Daphne, which grows high in the Himalayan hills. Only the outer bark is peeled, so the plant keeps growing. This makes lokta paper sustainable and renewable.

Artisans usually collect the bark between October and March, when the plant is healthiest.

Step 2: Boiling and Cleaning

Once the bark is collected, it’s boiled in water for several hours. This softens the fibers and removes dirt. After boiling, the bark is rinsed and cleaned—no chemicals, just water and skill.

Step 3: Hand-Pounding the Fibers

Next, the soft bark is beaten by hand with wooden mallets. This turns it into a thick pulp. This step is hard work but important—it’s what gives lokta paper its strength and beautiful texture.

Step 4: Making the Sheets

The pulp is mixed with water and spread evenly onto wooden frames covered in mesh. The artisan shakes the frame gently so the fibers spread out smoothly.

Then, the frames are set in the sun to dry. This natural drying gives the paper a soft, organic feel.

Step 5: Adding Color or Patterns (Optional)

Sometimes, the dried sheets are dyed using natural colors or printed with hand-carved wooden blocks. This is how lokta paper gets its rich tones and beautiful patterns.

Step 6: Final Touches

After drying, the sheets are trimmed, stacked, or bound into products like:

• Handmade journals
• Greeting cards
• Decorative gift wrap
• Beautiful art prints

Each product is finished by hand, ready to tell its story.

Why This Process Matters

This slow, careful way of making paper helps keep Nepal’s traditions alive. It gives work to artisans in remote villages and helps protect the environment.

When you use lokta paper, you’re using something real, honest, and full of heart.

Shop our handmade lokta paper collection and bring home a piece of this beautiful journey.