My Story So Far

Creativity has always been my compass. I studied illustration at university, driven by a desire to make beautiful things and, more importantly, to make a difference. Over the years, I supported various commissions and creative projects, but something always felt… missing. My work lacked a sense of purpose, a deeper thread that connected what I was making to why I was making it.

That quiet ache for meaning eventually became too loud to ignore. In my mid-twenties, I packed my bags and set off across the Far East, looking not just for inspiration, but for myself. It was during a slow meander through Northern India that I stumbled upon something that would change everything: a community of artisans practicing the ancient art of block printing, one of the oldest and most meditative textile crafts in the world.

I was mesmerised. The rhythm of the work, the intricacy of the process, the hands that pressed each block with such care, it was unlike anything I’d seen before. I stayed. I watched. I listened. And eventually, I joined in, clumsily at first, then with more confidence. Each press of the block felt therapeutic. Meaningful. Intentional. And somewhere in those quiet, ink-stained moments, BANJAARA was born.

The name pays tribute to the historic nomadic trading tribe of Rajasthan, people whose transient, slow-paced way of life deeply resonated with me. They lived in rhythm with the land, the seasons, and themselves. It felt like the perfect symbol for what I was creating, not just a clothing brand, but a philosophy.

That chapter of my life was defined by stillness and reflection. It made me question the constant chase for external validation and productivity. I realised how easily we lose ourselves in the fast lane, mistaking motion for meaning. Like many, I felt the pull to slow down, to reclaim my time, my values, my creativity.

Carl Honoré once wrote, “The great benefit of slowing down is reclaiming the time and tranquillity to make meaningful connections with people, with culture, with work, with nature, with our own bodies and minds.” That quote stayed with me. And it became the heartbeat of BANJAARA.

Eventually, the dreamy days of my travels ended and I returned home with nothing but a suitcase full of samples and a heart full of purpose. My bank account was nearly empty, but my mind was clear. I asked myself: If slow, conscious living changed my life so profoundly, could I create something that helps others experience that shift too?

Starting BANJAARA has been far from easy. Every day brings new challenges -limited resources, endless decisions, unexpected setbacks. But for the first time, I feel fulfilled. I’m creating from a place of alignment, building something slowly, intentionally, with love. I feel connected to my work, my purpose, and the people who believe in this vision.

And that’s what BANJAARA is really about.

A slower, more conscious way of living.

One block print at a time.