Nepalese Lokta Paper

Deep, rich earthtones in a variety of solids and patterns are the allure of Lokta Papers from Nepal. Handmade from the fiber of the " Nepal paper plant", also called the Daphne shrub or Lokta bush, the cultivation of this "tree free" paper is an eco friendly resource and a reliable revenue stream for the village artisans of Nepal's rural and urban areas. Growing around 6-9,000 feet up in the Himalayan region of Nepal, this bush completely regenerates in about 4 to 6 years after being cut to about 6" from the ground.

Lokta paper has been used in Nepal since the 12th century, when it was used to write epic tales, to print mantra for use in prayer wheels, and for religious texts chanted by Buddhist monks. Until 1959, Nepal used this paper for all official government correspondence, and even today it is used for all of their land ownership papers (lal purja) and legal documents.