Sahlia
Arcane Type Foundry · Alanna Munro · 2023
A high-contrast stencil serif where extreme stroke contrast causes thin strokes to dissolve entirely, giving the letters a worn, almost accidental elegance across five weights.
About
Designed by Alanna Munro and published in 2023, Sahlia takes an unconventional approach to the stencil form: rather than slicing away portions of each letter, the extreme weight contrast erases the thin strokes altogether, producing shapes that read as structured yet organic. Lighter weights carry a graceful, airy quality; heavier settings grow dramatic whilst retaining what the foundry calls a luxurious tone. Stylistic sets offer teardrop terminals, an alternate crossbar and a lambda wavy bar, extending the expressive range without disturbing the typeface's core character.
Classification
Sahlia is categorised as display owing to its extreme stroke contrast and stencil construction, where thin strokes dissolve entirely rather than being cut away in the conventional stencil manner, producing sharp high-contrast serifs suited to headline and editorial use rather than text setting.