Petition to bring back handwritten letters and wax seals

In her book What I Know For Sure Oprah Winfrey writes about some of her most prized possessions till date—letters. She writes, “On my fiftieth birthday luncheon, every woman in attendance wrote a note sharing what our friendship meant to her. All the notes were placed in a silver box. That box still has a treasured place on my nightstand; on days when I’m feeling less than joyful, I’ll pull out a note and let it lift me back up. A year later, I hosted a weekend of festivities to honour 18 magnificent bridge building, boundary breaking women. I called it the Legends Ball and after it was over, I received thank you letters from all the young ones in attendance. The letters were calligraphed and bound together in a book. They are among my most valued possessions. And they inspired me recently, when a friend was going through a tough time: I called all of her friends and asked them to write her love notes, which I then had bound into a book. And I know for sure that’s what we’re here to do: Keep the giving going.” 

At a time when nearly everything we need is available to us at the touch of a fingertip, when attention spans are decreasing and patience is slowly wearing off, here’s our petition to bring back handwritten letters and snail mail to remind us of the simpler joys of life. We curated a list of artists who write and design letters for you and get them delivered to your nearest and dearest ones. So, go out there, give, and send some letters of love, warmth and laughter. 

Letters by Shraddha by Shraddha Mishra 

Curated by Shraddha Mishra, ‘Letters by Shraddha’ is a small business to write your thoughts, feelings and ideas. “There are so many people out there who have so many feelings, so many emotions, but when it comes to expressing them, many find it hard. I wanted to be that medium. I am trying to bring back old traditions and smiles that are lost in emails and WhatsApp messages,” she writes on social media. You can choose to write your own message or have it written by her. Also pick from a host of other offerings such as handwritten letters using calligraphy or typed letters, the kind of paper and the packaging which includes a rose petal seal or a wax seal. You can also choose to send a set of postcards, designed by her to your loved ones! Prices vary according to your order. Some keep in minds: The word limit is approximately 450 words. 

Vintage Letters by Bhumistha 

“Writing and creating letters for my friends and family members is something I have always enjoyed doing. Nothing makes me happier than putting a smile on someone’s face. When you put down your thoughts onto paper, it becomes more heartfelt and meaningful,” Bhumishtha writes. Choose from a range of options such as golden-edged or tea-stained papers, brown vintage envelopes or envelopes with white seals. Her small business also offers other products such as festival hampers, polaroids, and custom stickers! You can also send in your own message or have it written by her with a word count of 450 words. Here’s a tip: Place your orders at least 10 days in advance. 
 
The Lettering Buff by Inpreet Kaur 

With expertise in calligraphy and engraving, this artist does it all—wedding invites, heartfelt letters, and thoughtful gifts. The letters can be customised to your taste, right from the colour of the ink, to the paper and the packaging. For one of her recent orders she crafted the most adorable proposal letter with dark pink ink on off-white paper and wrapped it in an envelope with a white seal. You can also choose from a variety of other products such as glass frames with dried flowers, perfume bottles with engraved names, and more. Prices vary based on your order. 

The Lettering String by Rina Panchal 

Here’s your one-stop shop for everything creative and made with love: vintage acrylic cards, acrylic letters, handwritten letters on paper, rustic flap cards, postcards and more. “Life is a collection of beautiful moments,” she captions a post of a specially curated rustic flap card. Prices vary based on your order. 

Calli by K by Kruti Patel 

“May you always remember what it feels like to fall in love,” reads a striking black-and-white post on Kruti Patel’s Instagram page. An architecture by profession, calligraphy and handwritten letters became important to Patel during the pandemic where she, among several others, used art and words as a form to express emotions and connect with other people. “A personalised touch to anything brings out the truest emotions,” writes the arch side hustler. Take your pick from glass frames, wax seals, dried flowers and a whole lot of love with these products. Keep in mind, you would have to send in your message for her to write.