For those who love handmade and sustainable stationery, especially notebooks, Seet Kamal’s workshop in India is a place to treasure. Step inside and you’ll find yourself surrounded by stacks of notebooks with beautiful covers, each one carefully made by hand. The scent of fresh paper lingers in the air. During a visit to Jaipur, we were given a behind-the-scenes look. We met the makers, watched sheets of paper transform into beautiful notebooks, and were reminded once again of the true value of craftsmanship. A moment we’re happy to share with you.
How it’s made: from cotton waste to notebook
Step 1. Sustainable covers made from recycled cotton paper
Each notebook cover is handcrafted from Katran, a type of cardboard made from cotton waste from the fashion industry. This upcycled cotton makes Katran just as strong as it is sustainable. The recipe is simple: shredded cotton, water, and starch. The proportions determine the thickness and strength, tailored to the notebook’s purpose.
Step 2. Unique cover prints with screen print or foil stamping
The cover print is the final step in the process. After applying the base color, the design is added using a screen print, foil print, or a combination of both. With screen printing, ink is pushed through a mesh screen with a prepared pattern — partially open, partially closed — that lets ink through in a specific design. With foil stamping, a thin metallic foil is placed on the cover and pressed into the paper using a heated stamp, leaving behind a shimmering impression.
Step 3. Artisanal finishing of the notebook cover
The outer side of the cover is made from fine paper, glued onto a sturdy cardboard base. The edges are neatly folded inwards for a clean and elegant finish.
Step 4. Hand-stitched pages of high-quality paper
The inside of the notebook, the blank pages, are sewn into the cover using a sewing machine. The thread color is carefully chosen. By hand, the (optional) elastic closure is added and the final finishing touches are applied with great care.
Voilà: the notebook is complete. The result? A handmade notebook with a unique look and feel.
Our sustainable notebooks tell a story of craftsmanship, conscious choices, and social impact. Curious what chapters you’ll entrust to these pages? There’s only one way to find out.
Discover our fairmade stationery
Why choose a notebook from A Beautiful Story?
Here’s what makes our notebooks so special:
- Sustainably made from recycled cotton paper (Katran), sourced from fashion industry waste.
- Fairmade in India, with care for people and the planet.
- Crafted by hand — each notebook is unique and lovingly made.
- Functional and stylish — available in 4 formats and 6 designs, perfect for any occasion.
- Full of symbolism — each notebook features a meaningful symbol on the cover. Think strength, growth, or connection. A daily reminder of what matters most to you.
Whether you write, sketch or reflect, with a notebook from A Beautiful Story, every moment becomes a little more meaningful.
Time for reflection and new plans? Write them down in our notebooks.
Late summer vibes: gently landing with a head full of sweet summer memories. Struggling a little to get back into the familiar rhythm. Mentally uploading the energy you’ve gained — and off you go again. Sounds familiar? We know, we’ve been there.
But maybe this moment is actually perfect for slowing down. For pausing, reflecting on what you’ve experienced, what you’ve learned, and what you want to carry with you into the next season.
Our tip: write down what’s on your mind. Memories, plans, dreams, doubts. Writing brings clarity and calm. And as luck would have it (or not so coincidentally), we’ve created a beautiful collection of handmade notebooks, journals, sketchbooks and cards, all part of our fairmade stationery collection.
If you ever get stuck with a question that’s hard to figure out, our insight cards and question cards are here to gently guide you forward.
Shop our notebooks here
