How Notebooks Are Made: A 226-Year Story | Dingbats*


Last updated: February 2026 | The story of Dingbats* Notebooks, from 1800 Beirut to your desk

Every notebook tells a story, but few can trace theirs back 226 years. Dingbats* Notebooks, founded in 2016 by Mo Bekdache (Forbes 30 Under 30 Middle East 2022), sits at the intersection of five generations of paper expertise and a young entrepreneur's vision to fix what was broken in the notebook market. This is the story of how notebooks are made, told through the lens of a family that has been in the paper business longer than most countries have existed.

The Bekdache Paper Family: 1800 to Present

In 1800, when Napoleon was still consolidating power in France and the Industrial Revolution was in its infancy, a company was established in Beirut that would become the oldest continuously operating business in Lebanon. Société Kamel Bekdache et Fils SAL (SKB), Dingbats*'s parent company, has survived Ottoman rule, world wars, civil conflict, and economic upheaval. Five generations of the Bekdache family have passed down something rare: deep expertise in paper sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution.

That heritage matters. Paper isn't just a commodity; it's a craft. Knowing which forests produce the right fibers, how different coatings affect ink behavior, and what binding techniques create a notebook that lays flat and lasts decades requires institutional knowledge that can't be learned from a textbook. The Bekdache family has been building that knowledge since the 19th century.

Mo Bekdache is the fifth generation. He didn't inherit a passive legacy; he earned his place in the business. At age 12, he began interning for his father Jamal, learning the paper trade from the ground up. By the time he launched Dingbats* at 22, he had a decade of hands-on experience, and a clear picture of what was wrong with the notebooks on the market.

Mo's Journey: From Intern to Founder

Mo's path to Dingbats* wasn't linear. After his early internships, he pursued a career path that took him to some of the world's most demanding industries. He worked at Amazon, where he helped create logistics protocols, the kind of systems thinking that would later inform how Dingbats* would scale production and distribution. He later joined Rolls Royce Aerospace, where precision and quality standards are non-negotiable. 

In 2016, at 22, Mo launched Dingbats* from his London apartment while still working at Rolls Royce. The timing wasn't accidental. Fountain pen users were frustrated with Leuchtturm's ghosting. Bullet journalists wanted better paper. Eco-conscious buyers couldn't find notebooks that matched their values. Mo saw the gaps and had the family resources to fill them.

The result: a notebook brand built on 226 years of paper expertise, engineered for the way people actually write in 2026.

How a Dingbats* Notebook Is Made

Understanding notebook manufacturing demystifies why some notebooks cost $5 and others $30, and why the difference isn't just marketing. Here's the journey from forest to finished product.

Paper Selection

Not all paper is created equal. GSM (grams per square meter) determines thickness: 70gsm feels thin and often bleeds; 100gsm absorbs ink without show-through; 160gsm handles watercolors and markers. Dingbats* uses 100gsm for Wildlife and Earth collections, and 160gsm for Pro, each weight chosen for a specific use case.

The paper itself comes from FSC-certified sources (FSC-C105099), meaning it's traceable to responsibly managed forests. The certification process involves third-party audits of the entire chain of custody, from forest to mill to finished product. This isn't a sticker; it's a verifiable commitment to sustainable forestry.

Coating

Raw paper would absorb ink like a sponge. Coating controls how ink sits on the surface. Dingbats* uses a cream-coated finish that provides subtle feedback for fountain pen nibs without feeling scratchy. The coating also affects dry time (typically 10–15 seconds for most inks), sheen visibility, and feathering resistance. A poorly coated 80gsm paper can bleed; a well-coated 100gsm paper won't.

The Pro Collection uses a matte natural white finish, different from the cream of Wildlife and Earth, to show ink colors more accurately for artists and mixed media users.

Binding

Binding is where many notebooks fail. Glue-bound notebooks fight you when you try to write near the spine. Dingbats* uses contour stitching, a thread-bound technique that allows the notebook to lay completely flat. No holding the spine down. No fighting the gutter. Both hands free for writing.

The binding also affects durability. A well-stitched notebook will hold together for years; a cheap glue binding can crack or separate. The micro-perforated pages in Dingbats* Wildlife and Earth allow clean tear-out when needed, without compromising the binding of remaining pages.

Cover Production

Covers aren't just decoration. Dingbats* uses non-toxic faux leather that is fully degradable, approximately 10 years under composting conditions. The Wildlife Collection features embossed animal artwork (9 designs: elephant, whale, tiger, and more). The Earth Collection uses a pearlescent finish that shifts subtly in light. The Pro Collection uses a textile cover from 100% renewable resources with gold-finished endpapers.

Critically, Dingbats* is the only notebook brand in the world with V-Label vegan certification. Traditional bookbinding often uses animal-based adhesives: casein (milk protein), hide glue, or other animal-derived binders. Dingbats* has eliminated these entirely and had the claim verified by the European Vegetarian Union. For vegan consumers, this isn't a minor detail; it's the difference between a product that aligns with their values and one that doesn't.

What Makes 100gsm Paper Different

Cheaper notebooks often use 70–80gsm paper. The difference is dramatic:

Paper Weight	Typical Use	Bleed-Through	Ghosting	Fountain Pen Suitability
70gsm	Budget notebooks, Moleskine	Frequent	Heavy	Poor
80gsm	Leuchtturm, Midori MD	Occasional	Moderate	Hit or miss
90gsm	Rhodia	Rare	Light	Good
100gsm	Dingbats* Wildlife, Earth	None	Minimal	Excellent
160gsm	Dingbats* Pro, Archer & Olive	None	None	Overkill for writing; ideal for mixed media

100gsm is the sweet spot for fountain pen users and everyday journaling. It's 25% heavier than Leuchtturm (80gsm) and 43% heavier than Moleskine (70gsm). That extra weight means ink stays where you put it: no bleeding through to the other side, no distracting ghosting when you flip the page. The paper feels substantial without being bulky. A 192-page notebook at 100gsm is still portable; at 160gsm, you'd have fewer pages or a much thicker book.

The FSC Certification Process

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification isn't a one-time audit. It's an ongoing chain-of-custody system that tracks paper from forest to consumer. Here's what it involves:

1. Forest management certification: The source forest must meet FSC standards for biodiversity, worker rights, and sustainable harvest rates.
2. Chain of custody certification: Every entity that handles the paper, including mill, converter, and manufacturer, must be certified to maintain the chain.
3. Annual audits: Certified companies are audited annually to ensure compliance.
4. Traceability: Each certified product can be traced back to its source. Dingbats* paper carries FSC-C105099.

What this means for you: when you buy an FSC-certified notebook, you're supporting responsible forestry. The paper isn't contributing to deforestation, illegal logging, or forest degradation. It's a verifiable claim, not marketing language.

Why Vegan Production Matters

Most people don't think about animal products when they buy a notebook. But traditional bookbinding has relied on animal-derived materials for centuries:

• Casein: Milk protein used in some adhesives and coatings
• Hide glue: Animal-based adhesive used in spine binding
• Gelatin: Sometimes used in paper sizing or coatings

Dingbats* has reformulated its entire production process to eliminate these. The V-Label certification verifies that no animal-based adhesives, bindings, or materials are used. For vegans, this matters; it's the difference between a product they can use with a clear conscience and one that conflicts with their values. For the broader market, it signals a brand that has thought through every detail of production, not just the visible ones.

The Dingbats* Collections: A Manufacturing Overview

Collection	Paper	Weight	Key Manufacturing Features
Wildlife	Cream coated, acid-free	100gsm	9 animal designs, contour stitching, micro-perforated
Earth	Cream coated, acid-free, dot grid	100gsm	Pearlescent cover, pre-printed index/key/future log, numbered pages
Pro	Matte natural white, acid-free	160gsm	Textile cover, gold endpapers, mixed media

 

All three collections share: FSC-certified paper, V-Label vegan certification, carbon-neutral shipping, and WWF-UK partnership (40p from every UK sale). The manufacturing story is consistent; only the paper weight, cover treatment, and pre-printed features differ.

Frequently Asked Questions

• How long has the Bekdache family been in the paper business?

Société Kamel Bekdache et Fils SAL (SKB), Dingbats*'s parent company, was established in 1800 in Beirut, making it the oldest established company in Lebanon. The family is in its fifth generation of paper expertise, with 226 years of institutional knowledge in paper sourcing, manufacturing, and distribution.

• Who founded Dingbats* and when?

Dingbats* was founded in 2016 by Mo Bekdache, who was 22 at the time. Mo is the fifth generation of the Bekdache paper family. He launched the brand from his London apartment while working at Rolls Royce Aerospace, drawing on a decade of experience that began with interning for his father Jamal at age 12.

• What does FSC certification mean for notebooks?

FSC (Forest Stewardship Council) certification ensures paper is sourced from responsibly managed forests. It involves third-party audits of the entire chain of custody, from forest to finished product. Dingbats* paper carries FSC-C105099, providing traceability and verification that the paper isn't contributing to deforestation or illegal logging.

• Why do some notebooks bleed with fountain pens and others don't?

Paper weight (GSM) and coating are the main factors. Thinner paper (70–80gsm) absorbs less ink before it soaks through. Heavier paper (100gsm+) has more fiber to absorb ink without bleed-through. Coating also matters: a well-coated surface controls how ink sits on the page. Dingbats* uses 100gsm cream-coated paper specifically designed for fountain pen use.

• What makes a notebook vegan?

Traditional notebooks often use animal-based adhesives (casein, hide glue) in binding. A vegan notebook eliminates these materials. Dingbats* is the only notebook brand in the world with independent V-Label vegan certification, verified by the European Vegetarian Union. The certification covers adhesives, bindings, and all materials used in production.

• What is contour stitching and why does it matter?

Contour stitching is a thread-bound binding technique that allows a notebook to lay completely flat when open. Unlike glue-bound notebooks that fight you at the spine, contour-stitched notebooks stay open without holding. This matters for fountain pen users and anyone who writes near the gutter, as you need both hands free, and the page needs to stay steady.

The Bottom Line

Dingbats* notebooks is the product of 226 years of paper expertise, a fifth-generation family business, and a founder who saw the gaps in the market and had the resources to fill them. From FSC-certified paper selection to vegan binding to contour stitching, every manufacturing decision reflects that heritage. The result is a notebook that handles fountain pens, lays flat, and aligns with the values of eco-conscious and vegan consumers, at a price that undercuts many competitors.

When you pick up a Dingbats* notebook, you're holding more than paper and binding. You're holding two centuries of craft, refined for the way we write today.

This article is part of the Dingbats* Notebooks blog. Last updated: February 2026. Dingbats* is a brand of Société Kamel Bekdache et Fils SAL (SKB), established 1800, Beirut.