About us

Who we are

We are a family business based in the United Kingdom, selling ankara (African print) handbags, accessories and homeware directly sourced from the beautiful continent of Africa. We started trading in November 2019, however, the idea for the business was formulated a few years before.

The idea for the business came from a passion for African print bags, primarily via purchase of said products from one of the founders of the business. Some of these were given as gifts to other family members who in turn developed an interest and then a passion for the products. For this reason we decided to start our business. We wanted to showcase other people's craftsmanship, (we do not make products ourselves) and bring the same enjoyment and passion to others, namely you.

Although the majority of our products are currently handbags and accessories, our intention is to expand our portfolio enabling you to have an even wider choice of African print designs.  If there are any African print products you would like to see, we would welcome your suggestions. 

What we stand for

Quality, value for money and total customer satisfaction which we believe will enhance your shopping experience with us. We aim to bring both popular and original designs to the comfort of your home and when COVID-19 is fully under control, for you to have a direct shopping experience with us, if you so choose.

COVID-19

In these times of COVID-19, we are also determined to ensure that our customers and those who we source our products from are not exposed to avoidable risks. In addition, we are aware of the potential for an impact on shipping. However, when goods are received, we hope that any delay would have been worth the wait.

Welcome to the world of Essentially Ankara!