Colour Your World

Anushka

A one-of-a-kind product starts with a one-of-a-kind story. Inspired by art and the emotions it evokes, the Basu family set out to give customers something different. Dreaming of products made from raw skill and unwavering passion, the team have successfully infused creativity, community and thoughtful craftsmanship. The outcome is more than just handbags: these are wearable works of art that bring joy to the lives of those who carry them and to the artists who have helped to create them.

BEAUTIFUL BEGINNINGS

It all began in 1988 when the original storyteller Roma Basu envisioned a world where art, function and fashion fused as one. She wanted to connect the artisan with the consumer and tell stories through beautiful artwork and flawless leather accessories. Roma’s talents, coupled with her husband Swapan’s eye for selecting premium leather cowhide and spotting meticulous craftsmanship, paved the way for something extraordinary.

ANUSCHKA 'LIKE NO OTHER'

Together they developed a unique production process and hand painting technique that has been taught and passed down for generations, allowing Anuschka to stay true to its name, which means 'like no other.'

THE ARTISANS

The Basu family hired unemployed and economically challenged young adults armed with a basic sense of art and a keen eagerness to learn the trade. Roma has personally taught them the intricacies of painting on leather in the family's workshop. Over the years, these skills have empowered them to earn an honest living and provide for their families by becoming a part of the Anushka family. 

FROM A LOCAL TO INTERNATIONAL LIFESTYLE BRAND

With the help of their son Bhaskar, the Basus expanded their product globally without ever losing sight of the values they’ve upheld since the beginning. What started as a small handbag company in India has blossomed into an international brand of premium lifestyle products, each made by employees who are treated like family.

HOW ART CHANGED ME FOR THE BETTER; A LETTER FROM THE CEO, BHASKAR BASU

In the past 30 years I have witnessed Anuschka touch lives in many ways. It has touched my life. It has taught me to be compassionate. It has taught me to never give up. It has taught me that family is the most important thing, and it taught me about empowering lives through art. 

Our artful products don’t just make your life beautiful: they give hope to hundreds of lives around the world- from Tapati, whose life was saved by the quality care Anuschka provides, to Bivas, who can share his love of art with you, while financially providing for his mother and brother. These stories are the true masterpieces of an Anuschka product.

When you buy an Anuschka handbag, you’re investing in the stories of 500+ people just like Bivas and Tapati. These are people who were in need of a regular income, healthcare, a secure home and an education for their children. By sharing the beauty of art with you, we are able to turn the problem of poverty into a circle of prosperity.

Moving forward, I will continue to push Anuschka towards a holistic, intentional lifestyle brand, focused on creating meaningful art that makes you feel beautiful, not just because you are, but because of the value you bring to lives in need around the world.

Thank you for taking Anuschka from a single garage to four locations, and from one artist to over 150. We have sold our works of art in over 50 countries because of your support, and I can’t wait to see where Anuschka will go in the next 30 years.

Boom Shankar

Queen of colour and all things fabulous, Dui Cameron is the designer and driving force behind Boom Shankar. From a childhood obsession with drawing and dress-ups, her love of colour and design has morphed into the creative celebration of Boom Shankar.

Nestled between two worlds; the beautiful picturesque beaches of Australia and the enchanting desert of  India, Dui finds her inspiration. From the natural beauty of the Sunshine Coast to the colours and patterns of Rajasthan, her creativity is fed by nature and the life that surrounds her. Boom Shankar designs are infused with fun, vibrancy and ease.

In 1996, after more than two years travelling through Asia, Dui settled in India, where she marvelled at her Indian friends' love of family, community and the simple joy that they found in the everyday. She noticed that the joyful and loving spirit she so admired seemed to be embodied in the colour and movement of her friends’ beautiful saris. From here, an idea was born.

Dui began sourcing secondhand wedding saris, transforming them into one-off pieces she sold at Anjuna flea markets in Goa. They were a hit! Inspired by her success (and homesickness after 5 years on the road), Dui returned to Australia. Using Indian fabrics, reimagined and sewn on the Sunshine Coast, she set up a stall at the famous Eumundi Markets.

Boom Shankar was off and running.

Over the last two decades, Boom Shankar has evolved into a prominent Australian fashion label, with a flagship boutique on the famous Hastings Street in Noosa Heads, a showroom at Noosaville, and distribution to more than 300 stockists throughout Australia. Dui designs each piece in Australia (including fabrics) and spends two to three months at a time in India working with fabric printers, pattern makers and craftsmen to assemble each season’s range. Despite Boom Shankar’s growth, Dui’s approach remains anchored in the same principles that motivated her early success: a sense of fun and adventure, a love of colour and design, great respect for Indian culture and people, and a commitment to the community.