About Us

My name is Jen, founder of Lapis Papel.

In the Filipino language of Tagalog, “lapis” translates to pencil and “papel” translates to paper. Growing up, my father would always tell my brother and I to grab a lapis and papel when doing our homework or writing anything. Where the pen offers permanency and neatness for final drafts, the pencil offers freedom; the freedom to get thoughts and ideas down on paper without concern for appearance or formalities.

From that point on, I always carried a notebook or planner to write down thoughts, dates, events, song lyrics, recipes, or whatever I needed to remember. Today, as a working nurse, I continue to carry a notebook with me every day, housing different aspects of my life. But as a busy person, I realized I don’t always need to keep my notebook looking perfect.

I discovered that the basic lesson my dad had taught me was right: The most important step is simply having something to write with and something to write on. Based on this philosophy, Lapis Papel is committed to creating quality, minimalist products for the busy person.