Bistre Black Zero Waste Handmade Artisanal Journal
This is not just a journal—it’s a philosophical experiment disguised as 100 blank pages.
What It Is:
The Bistre Black Zero Waste Journal is a 6"x8.75" handcrafted notebook designed with circularity in mind. Every element is artisanal: the soot-black cotton cover is dyed with traditional techniques like shibori and wax block printing, while the 100% handmade paper is created from unconventional sources—cotton fiber, tea fiber, carrot leaf, coffee husk, banana fiber, and yes, even elephant poop. Each one is cut, stitched, and bound in small batches by artisans in India, including differently-abled makers whose craft transforms sustainability into something tactile and functional.
Why You’ll Actually Use It:
Because jotting down your thoughts in an artisanal zero-waste notebook feels fundamentally different than typing into the void of your Notes app. It’s not just paper—it’s a cultural artifact that makes every grocery list or existential musing feel like part of a larger narrative. Whether you’re journaling, sketching, or pretending to write the next great American novel, this notebook turns a mundane act into something almost profound.
Key Details:
Dimensions: 6" x 8.75"
Pages: 100, handmade and wood-free
Cover: Custom-dyed cotton with shibori, wax block, or clamp-dye techniques
Materials: Cotton fiber, tea fiber, carrot leaf, coffee husk, banana fiber, elephant poop (seriously)
Color: Soot Black on White base
Handmade in India, in small batches
A zero-waste journal that holds your sketches, your secrets, and maybe your existential crisis.
About the brand: Powered by People
Powered by People is basically what happens when “shopping small” gets a global operating system. Instead of mass-produced sameness, they connect you with makers who are spinning out hand-dyed textiles, hand-thrown ceramics, and jewelry that feels like it was pulled from an alternate reality where craftsmanship never went out of style. The through-line isn’t just aesthetics—it’s the insistence that every object has both utility and a backstory, often rooted in sustainable practices, reclaimed materials, and cultural traditions that would otherwise get bulldozed by the modern marketplace. In short: they’re trying to prove that conscious consumption doesn’t have to look like homework.