Brand: Badly Made Books

📓 Why We Work with Badly Made Books

Sustainably Printed Notebooks with Irish Soul

At Croía Ireland, we believe in gifting items that are not only useful, but also meaningful — pieces that spark reflection, creativity, and connection. That’s why we proudly include Badly Made Books in our curated gift boxes.

Despite the tongue-in-cheek name, these books are anything but “badly made.” Handmade in Cork using recycled paper and low-impact production methods, every notebook and journal is a celebration of sustainability, design, and the creative process itself.

A Notebook That’s Anything But Ordinary

Each Badly Made Book is created using at least 70% post-consumer waste materials, then printed and bound in their small Cork studio. The covers feature unique designs, ranging from abstract artwork to minimalist photography, while the pages are perfect for jotting down thoughts, sketches, poems, or plans.

What we love most? They’re honest. They embrace imperfection, texture, and tactility — offering a slower, more intentional alternative to mass-produced stationery. They're designed for real life, with all its beauty and unpredictability.

Sustainable Design, Irish-Made

Badly Made Books was founded by Seán O'Sullivan with a simple yet radical idea: that books could be beautiful, useful, and low-impact. Since then, the studio has become a beloved name in Ireland’s creative and eco-conscious circles.

Their approach combines local production, recycled content, and low-energy techniques — right down to using risograph printing and hand-operated binding. Each book feels handcrafted and quietly personal, like it was made just for the person receiving it.

Why It Belongs in a Croía Gift

When someone opens a Croía gift box and finds a Badly Made Book inside, they’re receiving more than just a notebook — they’re being handed a blank canvas. A place to dream, to reflect, to create. It’s a gift that says, “your ideas matter.”

These books work beautifully in our wellness, creativity, and professional gifting boxes. Paired with artisan pens, Irish chocolate, or calming tea, they round out a gift that’s inspiring, thoughtful, and rooted in Irish design culture.

Honest Craft. Creative Freedom.

At Croía, we’re always seeking out makers who do things differently — brands with heart, vision, and a strong sense of purpose. Badly Made Books fits this perfectly. Their products are humble but impactful, simple yet layered with intention.

We love them not only for their sustainable values, but for how they invite recipients to pause, write, and reconnect — with themselves, with their thoughts, or with the page in front of them.

From recycled paper to real possibility, Badly Made Books helps us turn every Croía gift box into a celebration of Irish creativity and conscious living.