The result is a paper that, despite being so thin, stands up easily and confidently to watercolour, wash, ink, and pencil — giving your art all the benefits of both a cotton paper and a thin paper without any of the downsides of the latter. Sketches hold fast, washes are imparted an almost ethereal quality, and the page seems to simultaneously accept and express ink and idea.

Originally thought to have come from ancient Persia, the seigaiha pattern entered Japan via the Silk Road in the sixth century. It gained cultural prominence in Japan as one of the key patterns kagura dancers wore during traditional Shinto ceremonies, before later entering use by the wider populace.

Formed of three crescents stacked atop one another, the pattern represents the open sea and its waves, and in Japanese culture is thought to symbolise gratitude for the bounties of the sea and a wish for a peaceful life.

Our Musubi Labs imprint is our experimental arm, designed to push the boundaries of fabric technology, papermaking, and bookbindery.

Whether via innovative fabric processing techniques, unusual source materials, or rare paper typically not available commercially, every Musubi Labs release blends modern technology with traditional construction techniques to provide a writing experience unlike any you’ve experienced before.

Every diary comes ready to gift, packaged in a Musubi box with a certificate hand-signed by our team of artisans with disabilities. The certificate doubles as a bookmark and has a grid guide sheet printed on its reverse side.