A fresh year means fresh pages, and if you’re the type who gets waaay too excited about planners, notebooks, and leather folios (honestly, same), you’ve probably already bookmarked a dozen options online. If you’re deep in the journal community, you know everyone wants to get their hands on a coveted Louise Carmen, a French brand known for creating handcrafted leather journals and folios. We might not have the budget for a Louise Carmen, but we do have local makers who are stepping up with gorgeous, customizable dupe that look just as chic and last just as long.

Whether you’re the kind who loves journaling in cafes, stuffing notebooks with travel receipts, or just scribbling thoughts at 2 a.m., here’s where you can score a leather journal that’s 100% Filipino-made and maybe even DIY your own.

Cada Dia

Cada Dia is a favorite among journaling enthusiasts for its vegetable-tanned leather available in over a dozen colors – from moody Bordeaux and Mahogany to bright and sunny Ochre and Crimson hues. Their folios are available in multiple sizes (A4, A5, A6, Traveler’s, and Pocket) and come with two plain notebooks when purchased. Don’t worry if you have a lot of thoughts to write down; the folio fits a maximum of three notebooks, with refills available on their site. You can also personalize the elastic cord color and have your name or initials embossed on the front and inner flaps.

You can always visit Cada Dia’s website to purchase your folio (with prices ranging from P3,200 to P9,000), but if you want to see the journals first-hand, they offer Personalization Sessions (P500 reservation fee) every month at cafe meet-ups and pop-ups.

Sting & Snout Bindery

Sting & Snout Bindery keeps things simple but premium. Their leather folio sizes are available in A5 and the smaller A6, and it comes in ten classic colors, plus three newly released holiday colors – Pinkberry, Marigold, and Evergreen. Their folios are handcrafted from premium, vegetable-tanned leather, exclusively sourced from a family-owned tannery in Tuscany, Italy. Their high-quality 52gsm Tomoe River notebooks are made in Japan and specifically designed to handle tools like pencils, fountain pens, and even watercolors. Of course, Sting & Snout lets you customize journal cord colors and offer front and inside engraving, too. And if you want to jazz up your journal so it gives you joy every time you write on it, you can choose from a range of charms as well.

For those who need more pockets for vintage photos, stickers, receipts, and other junk journaling essentials, Sting & Snout also offers Pocket Inserts made from soft, premium Italian leather.

To build your own leather folio, visit their website and get cracking. But if you want a more customized folio – specific color, design, size (A4 or B5), or layout (bifold) – you can book a call with them to discuss customization.

Palimea Philippines

Anik-anik obsessed folks will love how customizable Palimea Philippines’ leather folios are. They offer two main styles: Lakbay Bifold (P1,300+) and Sierra Trifold (P2,200+) with options for two or three notebook inserts (P200+). Palimea’s full-grain, vegetable-tanned Italian leather comes from a tannery in Tuscany, Italy, which is then handcrafted in the Philippines. But the best part about a Palimea journal is getting to pick charms (P120+) – from butterflies, flowers, and suns to different colored gemstones – that make your journal truly yours.

Visit Palimea’s website to shop for your journal. You can also DM them on Instagram for custom requests like extra embossing or eyelet-free journals.

Grotto and Archive

Grotto and Archive started as Andie Andrada’s hobby, a “documentation of [her] ongoing exploration of leathercraft.” Almost half a year later, her Memory Vessels – journals she handcrafts herself from vegetable-tanned cowhide leather sourced from Spain – are one of the most sought-after by journal enthusiasts in the Philippines. It’s available in two versions, Drifter (A5) and Capsule (A6). These vessels are adorned by the most beautiful charms, which Andie herself painstakingly creates. Each Memory Vessel comes with three free charms (two side charms and one front charm) and two MUJI Grid notebooks.

Since Grotto and Archive journals are largely handmade, they sell out easily. So make sure you follow them on Instagram for news on restocks. And if you want to see the Memory Vessels in person before you decide which one to take home, keep your eyes peeled for pop-up announcements around the Metro.

Aurea

Whether you’re a fan of the classic bifold or the chic trifold journal, you can never go wrong with Aurea journals. One of the most affordable options here, Aurea’s bifold journals start at P775 while trifolds go up to P1,850. Available in three sizes (A5, A6, passport) and six colors, these journals are designed to get softer and more beautiful with time. The Bifold comes with 2 fountain pen-friendly inserts and the Trifold in three and, yes, you can customize cords and add charms for an additional price.

Send Aurea a message on Instagram for orders.

Second Element

Second Element’s catalog includes two journal sizes, both made from faux vegan leather – Grand Size A5 (P649/P1,049) and Passport Size (P499/P789). The journals include elastic cords and engraving requests for inner and outer flaps, and come with a free notebook. But the leather folio themselves can hold up to four notebooks, so you can decide how to build your journal system. When it comes to charm selections, Second Element will never disappoint. Their huge selection of charms ranges from vintage keys and tiny gold medallions to colorful geodes and sea-inspired trinkets.

Send Second Element a message on Instagram for their whole catalog.

Lockheart Leather Journals

A fresh face in the scene, Lockheart Leather Journals was founded by content creator Cheris Berries and focuses on sustainability using locally sourced scrap leather, giving them a new life. For P1,500, you get a one-of-a-kind journal with your choice of enclosure (heart or elastic), customized cords, free charms, and two free notebooks. How’s that for an affordable Louise Carmen dupe?

Lockheart Leather Journals creates limited pieces only, so follow them on Instagram and move fast when they drop!

Make your own Louise Carmen dupe!

Lastly, if you’re feeling crafty, maybe the perfect Louise Carmen dupe for you is one you’ll make with your own hands. Lots of creators online have shown how easy it is to create a leather folio from scratch without spending too much. For the leather, you can thrift genuine leather bags or grab scraps from local leather shops. From there, you can cut the leather into the size you want, and get a grommet kit and colored cords. Add charms, and you’ve got a one-of-a-kind journal that’s completely your own.

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