
Announcement
Dear valued customers
I am on a short summer break from Aug 10-30. So the order processing times for small orders has been put to 3 weeks. I will resume shipping from August 30.
Bulk and custom print orders are still being processed through our workshop
in Pakistan and shipped express directly as usual.
I will continue to monitor the shop and answer all your messages so please feel free to reach out to me with your specific inquiries and I will be happy to assist.
PARWANA handmade paper is happy to ship all your purchases in ECO clear bags: these are compostable clear resealable bags - where possible we are also phasing in bubble mailers which are recyclable. Making sure our recycled handmade paper products reach you safe in an eco conscious manner. Thank you for shopping with us 🌱
Announcement
Dear valued customers
I am on a short summer break from Aug 10-30. So the order processing times for small orders has been put to 3 weeks. I will resume shipping from August 30.
Bulk and custom print orders are still being processed through our workshop
in Pakistan and shipped express directly as usual.
I will continue to monitor the shop and answer all your messages so please feel free to reach out to me with your specific inquiries and I will be happy to assist.
PARWANA handmade paper is happy to ship all your purchases in ECO clear bags: these are compostable clear resealable bags - where possible we are also phasing in bubble mailers which are recyclable. Making sure our recycled handmade paper products reach you safe in an eco conscious manner. Thank you for shopping with us 🌱
Items
Featured items
All Items
Reviews
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Conrad on Aug 11, 2022
5 out of 5 starsShipped surprisingly fast and got to us in no time! Excellent quality, extremely beautiful paper.
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Sue on Jul 26, 2022
5 out of 5 starsExactly what I was looking for. Arrived quickly. I’d order again without hesitation!
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Carley on Jul 18, 2022
5 out of 5 starsPerfect! The paper was exactly as described and worked great for my wedding invitations!
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Carley on Jul 18, 2022
5 out of 5 starsShipping was so fast! The paper was perfect! Exactly as described! It worked perfectly for my wedding invitation!
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Jules on Jun 24, 2022
5 out of 5 starsThe paper is absolutely beautiful and soft to the touch. Perfect for a vintage / unique touch to wedding invites. I had an issue with some paper being too large to fit the envelopes but customer service was kind of enough to resolve the issue for me. They were also super responsive on shipment timing and any other questions for my custom order. My letterpress printer was also impressed with the quality of the paper and my calligrapher said it was easy to write on. Would recommend!
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About PARWANAPaper
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Making the knot
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Trimming the edges after binding
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Transition from fabric to paper is tricky, depending on the paper composition the ink viscosity has to be controlled
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Our master artisan block printer with a hand carved wood block
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Recycled Newspaper Pencil making machine which converts newspaper pulp into pencil sticks.
PARWANA Beautiful Handmade Paper
I am a fan of everything which is ethnic, vintage and handcrafted. My life long love for handmade paper started when on a holiday in India as a kid, I was given a beautiful handmade paper letter writing set, as a present by my Aunt. At that point I was just intrigued by its beauty and simplicity....many years later, back in Lahore, Pakistan where I grew up and went to business school, my brothers started this venture with a family friend where they got together with a group of paper makers in Lahore and decided to revive this failing paper making outfit. The vision then was to revive the art of paper making, and somehow manufacture a quality that could be marketed to benefit the original warehouse owners.
When the first papers were made - I was in Toronto much removed from what was then happening back in Lahore. But, in the summer of 2016 I was visiting my family and my involvement with PARWANA handmade paper business started.
The challenge for us was to convert the paper to a marketable consumer friendly product and so we got going. Our first products were gift bags and money envelopes, which were targeted at the busy wedding event in the town. Gradually we got noticed and through word of mouth got exposure to socially conscious businesses.
The volumes are still not justifiable for us because the handmade paper does not get appreciation locally, being rough and expensive. But we continue to educate consumers through our participation in artisan fairs and our social media campaigns. PARWANA now sources most of its paper from the M&M brothers as well as from other artisanal paper makers.
PARWANA remains committed to achieve its goal of restoring the livelihood of the local artisans who are involved in the art of paper-making, bookbinding and block printing, providing them with financial, technical and design support to develop contemporary artifacts, and help them find new markets locally, and now through our foray in Canada - internationally.
PARWANA paper products are hand crafted, using cotton and silk textile remnants and plant fibers. Ours is not mass produced watercolour stock, which is manufactured on hand operated high-speed machines. Instead each piece of paper is individually made by hand.
Our paper: is environmentally sound, processed and handmade on wooden deckles. Occasionally, you may find irregularities in the thickness or colour of the paper, which is inevitable due to the process, and only adds to the charm of the paper itself.
Produced in beautiful, rich colours, hand finished with lovely designs and textures, and block printed by hand, our paper is available in a variety of thicknesses (90gsm – 300gsm). Our paper is perfect for letterpress and appropriate for almost any use including pen and ink, drawing with coloured or graphite pencil, or light washes of watercolours. The paper can also be used for mixed media. The lower grammage paper will print in the top feed area of an ink jet printer, however, we suggest samples be used for any testing. The full size sheets measure approximately 20" x 30" and the edges are untouched from their drying deckle. We also use this deckle edge paper in some of our unique hand bound notebooks.
Our block printed stationery: is made using the traditional South Asian block printing process in rich vibrant colours.
In the traditional block printing process, which is unique to the South Asian regions comprising India and Pakistan, each colour of the print requires a separate, hand carved wood block. Each colour pattern is stamped individually onto the paper; the process takes skill and time as the pattern is stamped repeatedly across the paper, colour by colour. The slight imperfections create the artistic effect emblematic of block prints, and every item made from this process is unique.
Hand bound Notebooks: Combining the skills of our papermakers and bookbinders, we are developing a collection of hand bound notebooks and journals that use traditional bookbinding techniques, at times incorporating leather vestige as decorative accents. Each notebook will treasure your thoughts in its timeless elegance.
Newspaper Pencils: complement our recycled hand made paper and are made by our artisan partner in Chennai. Colour and B&W Newspapers are sourced locally and converted to pulp which is poured into a mulit stage semi automatic pencil making machine making 30-40 pencils / min.
We make paper and all our stationery items in small batches so that we can improvise on designs and product range. Should you have a particular design or item in mind that you would like us to make for you, please feel free to contact us. We would love to hear from you.
Shop members
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Ayesha
Designer, Marketer, Creator
Design and create handcrafted stationery. Working with artisans who develop handmade paper from recyclables is a fascinating journey. Hope you like our unique eco friendly paper stationery.
Production partners
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Artisan Paper Makers
Lahore, Pakistan
Muzaffar is our artisan paper maker. Self taught and motivated to revive a dying craft, Muzaffar has been dabbling in paper making for over 2 decades. Today PARWANA paper relies on his expertise to promote and develop this art in Pakistan
Shop policies
Shipping
Customs and import taxes
Payment options
Returns & exchanges
I gladly accept exchanges and cancellations
I don't accept returns
The following items can't be returned or exchanged
- Custom or personalized orders
- Perishable products (like food or flowers)
- Digital downloads
- Intimate items (for health/hygiene reasons)
- Items on sale
I accept returns I do not accept returns
I accept exchanges I do not accept exchanges
I accept cancellations I do not accept cancellations
Because of the nature of these items, unless they arrive damaged or defective, I can't accept returns for:
Privacy policy
More information
Frequently asked questions
Custom and personalised orders
Custom orders are always welcome! We would be delighted to create a custom order for you-Turnaround time is presently two to 4 weeks, depending upon the nature/design of item. Payment is required before work can begin.
How do I return / refund / exchange
Please follow this return : refund policy:
1. Return the item in original packaging and condition via tracked shipping
2. Please provide a tracking number and a picture of the shipping label so that we can track the package
3. Return To OUR BUSINESS ADDRESS:
Fatima Kashif
244 McDougall Crossing
Milton ON L9T 0N7
Canada
Ph: +1 (647) 530-4941
4. Once the item is received in original condition we will refund you for the original amount less actual shipping & 5$ handling charges
Seller details
PARWANAPaper is considered a professional seller (known as a trader) in the EU. What's this?