Hobonichi Cover minä perhonen: aalto (A5)

The aalto cover by minä perhonen features a textile created from layered, translucent watercolour washes – applied with a flat brush and plenty of water, allowing the colour layers to flow into one another like waves receding to the horizon. "Aalto" means "wave" in Finnish. The smooth linen exterior, deep blue interior and zip construction make this cover an everyday companion with a calm, atmospheric presence.

Features

• Watercolour linen textile: The aalto pattern originated as a hand-drawn watercolour – colour diluted with water, layered progressively and translated into smooth linen weave. Each cover shows a slightly different section of the pattern, depending on how the fabric was cut.
• Smooth linen weave: The exterior feels cool and even in the hand. The texture is fine and pleasantly tactile, without roughness – linen of this quality becomes softer with use and displays wear marks as an integral part of its surface.
• Zip with leather puller: The zip closes the cover completely. The puller is crafted from cattle leather; the butterfly-shaped stop at the zip end is a signature detail of the minä perhonen collaboration.
• Pen hook inside: An internal hook holds a pen by its clip – not a pen loop system, but an open hook format that accommodates pens with clips up to 13.5 mm in diameter.
• Two ribbon bookmarks: Bright yellow and grey – both colours correspond with the deep blue interior lining and the pale, wave-patterned exterior.
• Deep blue interior: The dark blue interior lining creates a clear, restful contrast to the watercoloured exterior.
• 180° opening: The binding construction allows the cover to lie completely flat. Small creases may appear at the outer seams – this is inherent to the construction, not a quality defect.

Use & Tips

• Compatible with: The Hobonichi Techo Cousin (A5 format). The cover accommodates a single Cousin notebook; it is not designed for cover-on-cover use with thicker outer covers.
• Pen tip: The pen hook is initially stiff – it can be loosened by gentle rolling in your hand. Pens with clips up to 13.5 mm shaft diameter fit easily; thicker grips may be difficult to insert.
• Colour care: Linen can transfer colour to other surfaces when damp (perspiration, rain). Particularly with lighter textiles and intensive daily use, we recommend careful handling around light-coloured clothing or other leather items in direct contact.
• Patina welcomed: Linen covers develop a gentle wear texture over time. Small irregularities in the weave structure are inherent to the material – minä perhonen deliberately works with textiles that are allowed to evolve over years.
• Storage: Do not store in damp or warm environments and do not press under other objects – both can lead to warping and colour transfer.

For Techo & Textile Enthusiasts

minä perhonen was founded in 1995 by Akira Minagawa with the explicit goal of creating textiles that retain their character across decades. The brand name combines Finnish and Japanese: "minä" means "I", "perhonen" means "butterfly". The aalto pattern was created using minä perhonen's characteristic method: a hand-drawn design is first developed as a watercolour, then created as a textile pattern – dyed, woven or printed to preserve the quality of the hand-drawn work in the fabric. The result is patterns where no two sections are identical: place two aalto covers side by side and you'll find different wave sections on each one.

Technical Specifications