In late spring 2016, on somewhat of a whim, I signed up for a washi-making class in Tokyo because I thought it would be a fun thing to do. Little did I know that this one-hour workshop would literally change the way I saw washi forever!

Up until that point I had a pure yet simple appreciation for chiyogami – Japanese handmade paper silkscreened with vibrant patterns and colors, and oftentimes accented with beautiful gold metallic ink. Having the opportunity for a hands-on experience in making a single sheet of washi allowed me to see beyond the gorgeous print and connect with the papermaking process for the first time. It was the defining moment that truly ignited my passion for washi and shaped the course of my paper trail.