Luxury Lokta Wrapping Paper

Description

Beautiful Luxury Lokta Wrapping Paper is a wildcrafted, handmade hand block printed artisan paper indigenous to Nepal. Lokta paper making is a traditional practice from the high altitude Himalayan forests of Nepal.

The Lokta bush is a fast growing shrub and the paper making process helps to provide economic stability for some of Nepal's poorer rural people. The paper has a wonderfully tactile nature, is very durable and has a natural off white, creamy colour. 

Lokta paper's durability and resistance to tearing, humidity, insects and mildew have traditionally made Lokta paper the preferred choice for the recording of official government records and sacred religious texts.

It also make fantastic wrapping paper. Used carefully it is a gift in itself and can be used over and over again. We have created packs of three lovely designs as you can see below. Take your pick. 

Specifications

Size of sheets is approx: 77 cm. x 51 cm.
Every piece is unique so expect a little variance.

Sustainability

Nepalese handmade Lokta paper is made from the fibrous inner bark of high elevation evergreen shrubs primarily from two species of Daphne (plant) (Greek: meaning "Laurel"): Daphne bholua and Daphne papyracea, known collectively and vernacularly as lokta bushes.

Lokta bushes proliferate in open clusters or colonies on the southern slopes of Nepal's Himalayan forests between 1,600 and 4,000 m (c.5,250–13,000 ft). The Daphne shrub, a subspecies of laurel, grows wildly and covers more than million hectares of forest land. Like the laurel plants (laurus nobilis) of Turkey and Syria, the Daphne shrub is one of the world's few underutilized species.

Lokta is a non-wood forest product (NWFP) harvested from protected areas (national parks, reserves, conservation areas) and is an important reservoir of biological resources maintained under in situ condition in the unique and diverse Himalayan ecosystems. When harvested, the Lokta bush automatically regenerates to a fully grown 4-5 meter plant with in 5–7 years.

Story

Siesta Crafts was started in 1983 by Chris and Les Harper with a market stall selling handicrafts that were brought back from their travels from Mexico and Guatemala (hence the name!).

They now import directly from suppliers in countries all over the world on a Fair Trade basis and they are proud to be a member of the British Association for Fair Trade Shops and Suppliers.

They specialise in unusual and interesting gifts. In this day and age of anodyne, cloned town high streets, it is good to see they have a vibrant, colourful presence with a wide range of unique and colourful handcrafted and fair trade items.

Their intention is that by trading with their producers they are helping them to achieve economic self-sufficiency, whilst simultaneously bringing to their customers the skills and crafts of other cultures.

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