‘They made it look so easy’: traditional craft of bookbinding rejuvenated for the TikTok age

Enthusiasts are customising their favourite works and being rewarded with wide social media following

The videos often begin with every bibliophile’s nightmare: a person ripping the covers off a book.

They are not vandals, however; they are bookbinders, taking part in a growing trend for replacing the covers of favourite works to make unique hardback editions, and posting about their creations on TikTok and Instagram.