If you want a refillable, Italian-leather Paper Republic journal, it costs much less than Louise Carmen. The Grand Voyageur cover starts at $68, and Le Trifold is $175, while Louise Carmen runs from roughly €122 to €609. If you mostly want a daily planner, buy a Hobonichi. And if you want a one-off journal with a name on it, a handmade leather journal from a small workshop like ours is worth a look.
Here’s how they compare, as of 31 October 2026.
Why everyone’s searching “Paper Republic journal” right now
We couldn’t find one news story behind it. A few things are happening at once. Louise Carmen’s notebooks went viral on TikTok, and Paper Republic has become the go-to cheaper alternative. It’s also planner season: Hobonichi’s 2027 Techo range went on sale on 1 September 2026, and Traveler’s dated diary refills are widely on sale. Holiday gift-buying adds to it. Paper Republic also posted on its blog on 29 October 2026 about a new add-on, la pochette (more on that below).
Google Trends (fetched 28 October 2026):
- “paper republic”: +160% (30 days)
- “paper republic journal”: +150% (30 days)
- “louise carmen”: +140% (30 days)
- “louise carmen journal”: +120% (30 days), +110% (24 hours)
- “hobonichi”: +80% (30 days)
- “travelers journal”: +60% (24 hours)
Paper Republic vs Louise Carmen vs Hobonichi at a glance
| Paper Republic | Louise Carmen | Hobonichi | Handmade Udaipur (us) | |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Made in | Vienna, Austria | Paris, France | Japan (brand) | Udaipur, India |
| Cover | Vegetable-tanned Italian (Tuscan) leather | Leather in many shades, with a cord and charms | Planner first. Covers are sold separately | Hand-cut leather, tooled or embossed by hand |
| Refillable | Yes. Pocket, A6, XL, A5 | You choose lined or dotted inserts | A new planner every year | Refillable styles available |
| Personalisation | Embossing up to 3 characters ($6 in the US store) | Embossing and charms | Limited | Name engraving |
| Price | From $68; Le Trifold $175 | About €122 to €609 (CNBC) | Depends on edition | See each journal |
Paper Republic: the refillable all-rounder
Paper Republic was founded in Vienna in 2012 by Jérôme Bacquias. It still makes its leather journals by hand in Vienna, from vegetable-tanned leather that darkens and builds a patina as you use it. A 30 October 2026 post on the brand’s blog says all of its leather comes from one family-run tannery in Tuscany. The leather is tanned without chrome, using chestnut, mimosa and quebracho tannins, and is certified by the Genuine Italian Vegetable-Tanned Leather Consortium. The Grand Voyageur is a Traveler’s-style cover and starts at $68.
Le Trifold ($175) is the brand’s answer to Louise Carmen. It comes in A6 (11.3×16 cm closed) or A5 (15.5×22.2 cm closed) and in seven colour combinations. Its three ribbons hold up to six book refills, or 12 notebook refills if you buy extra ribbons, and it ships with a 96-page plain refill in a gift box. On 31 October 2026 it was sold out in the US store and no restock date had been given, so for now you can only sign up for “notify me”.
New: la pochette. Paper Republic introduced la pochette in a 29 October 2026 blog post. It’s a slim leather organiser that slides onto your journal’s ribbons the same way a refill does. It has two card slots, two pockets, a hidden pocket and magnetic closures, and it’s the brand’s first piece with a French-style folded leather edge. It costs $180, plus $6 if you want up to three characters embossed. There are two sizes:
- [pocket], 10×14 cm: fits the Grand Voyageur [pocket], Le Portfolio A6 and Le Trifold A6.
- [xl], 14×19.5 cm: fits the Grand Voyageur [xl], Le Portfolio A5 and Le Trifold A5.
It comes in cognac, petrol blue, black, chestnut and botany green. On 31 October 2026 the product page said “only 66 left”, and three options showed “notify me”: chestnut and botany green in [pocket], and botany green in [xl].
The official US store says Paper Republic pays all tariffs, duties and fees, so US buyers pay nothing extra on delivery. You can return items within 14 days of delivery, but not if they’ve been embossed. On Trustpilot, Paper Republic scores 4.5/5 from 580 reviews. Most complaints are about delivery times, because pieces are made to order. In the US you can also buy in person at Topdrawer (155 Spring St, New York, and 140 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles).
Louise Carmen: the Paris experience
Louise Carmen is a family business in Paris, with boutiques in Passage du Grand-Cerf and at 51 Galerie Vivienne. You pick the size, the paper, the leather shade, the cord, the embossing and the charms. Making one takes about an hour. CNBC reports that Americans place about 60% of its online orders. The Magnum L starts at €209 on the brand’s site. The Globe and Mail put the smallest notebook at about $197 and charms at $32 to $97 each. A heavily customised notebook shipped to Canada came to $756.
Hobonichi and Traveler’s: the planner people
The Hobonichi Techo 2027 is a daily planner first. It’s known for thin paper that handles fountain pens well. The 2027 range has more than 280 new items, including collaborations with Leo Lionni’s Frederick, Akiko Miyakoshi, the V&A, Hello Kitty and MOTHER 2. Traveler’s dated diary refills fit Traveler’s-style covers such as the Grand Voyageur. Through 2026 and 2027, Traveler’s Company is also selling 20th-anniversary limited items at its “caravan” events. If you want a dated system for the year, start with these.
Where a handmade leather journal fits
We make journals by the lake in Udaipur, one at a time. We’re small on purpose. Our leather journals are for people who want rough, deckle-edge paper that feels like an old book, rather than a slim planner system. Deckle edges look beautiful for sketching, notes and keepsakes. If you write mainly with a fountain pen, test your ink on a corner first.
Want a name on the cover? Our engraved journals are personalised in the workshop. If you’d rather keep swapping inserts the Paper Republic way, see our refillable journals.
One honest note: we ship from India. Depending on your country, you may be charged import duties or VAT when the parcel arrives, so please check before you order, especially for holiday gifts.
Which should you buy?
- Best-value refillable system: the Paper Republic Grand Voyageur.
- If you want the trifold look: join the Le Trifold waitlist, or buy the A5 from Topdrawer when it’s back.
- If you want to keep cards and loose notes with your journal: la pochette, in the size that matches your cover.
- If you want the full Paris experience: Louise Carmen, if your budget allows.
- Dated daily planner: Hobonichi or Traveler’s.
- A one-off gift with a name on it: a handmade journal. Browse our full workshop collection.
Frequently asked questions
Is Paper Republic cheaper than Louise Carmen?
Usually, yes. Paper Republic's Grand Voyageur cover starts at $68 and Le Trifold costs $175. CNBC reports that Louise Carmen notebooks run from about €122 to €609 once customised, and the Globe and Mail put the smallest at about $197 before charms. Both use real leather. Louise Carmen costs more because you build your notebook in a Paris boutique and add charms.
When will Paper Republic Le Trifold be back in stock?
As of 31 October 2026, Paper Republic hasn't announced a restock date. Le Trifold ($175) shows as sold out in the official US store, which offers a 'notify me' signup. Topdrawer earlier listed the A5 version at $270, marked 'Back soon'. Signing up for the alert is the most reliable way to hear when it returns.
What is Paper Republic la pochette?
La pochette is a slim leather organiser that Paper Republic introduced in a blog post on 29 October 2026. It slides onto your journal's ribbons like a refill and has two card slots, two pockets, a hidden pocket and magnetic closures. It costs $180, plus $6 for embossing. The [pocket] size fits A6 covers and the [xl] size fits A5 covers. Some colours already show 'notify me'.
Do US buyers pay import duties on Paper Republic journals?
According to Paper Republic's official US store, the brand pays all tariffs, duties and fees for US customers, so nothing extra is due when the parcel arrives. Some Trustpilot reviewers in other regions say VAT only showed up late at checkout, so if you're ordering from outside the US, check the final total before you pay.
Does Paper Republic take Traveler's Notebook or Hobonichi refills?
Le Trifold is made for A6 and A5 notebooks, so standard A6 and A5 inserts should fit. Paper Republic's pocket and XL notebooks are the brand's own sizes. Before you buy a Traveler's or Hobonichi refill, check its measurements against Paper Republic's size guide, because notebook sizes differ between systems.
Where can I buy a Paper Republic journal in person?
Paper Republic lists these stockists: its own shop, la maison, at Sonnenfelsgasse 3 in Vienna; Topdrawer SoHo at 155 Spring St, New York; Topdrawer Larchmont at 140 N Larchmont Blvd, Los Angeles; and Papeterie Perjac at 66 Rue du Faubourg Poissonnière in Paris. Stock varies, so call ahead if you want a particular size or colour.
Sources
- Le Trifold leather journal · Paper Republic
- La pochette · Paper Republic
- What fits inside an idea? A conversation with Khatia on designing la pochette · Paper Republic
- The leather we choose, and keep choosing · Paper Republic
- Paper Republic news · Paper Republic
- Magnum cuir heritage · Louise Carmen
- Hobonichi Techo 2027 · Hobonichi
- Louise Carmen notebooks and the young Americans journaling trend · CNBC
