Founded by Manisha S. Joshi in 2004, Sunisha Designs (www.sunishadesigns.com) celebrates its five-year anniversary this October. Since opening her studio, Manisha has seen customers turn into friends and watched her business evolve into a hot spot for one-of-a-kind gift accessories and handbags. Her eco-friendly designs continually reuse vintage saris and garments to add uniqueness to the entire product line.




Sunisha Designs handmade handbags are what first caught the eye of Excursions producers. Each year, Excursions does a series of shows in which it visits the most prominent and interesting destinations in a particular city or region.




Our customers loved our unique fabric gift bags, and asked if we could design handbags. Now, we have an exclusive niche as the only company in Jacksonville that does custom handbags, Manisha says.




At her customers request, Manisha learned how to use a sewing machine and within a short time was creating beautiful handbags using everything from store-bought fabrics to recycled garments. She now has a team of seamstresses who make each handbag by hand right here in Jacksonville. The company has never received any venture investment and has grown solely through Manishas hard work and determination and the support of customers that are attracted to the fresh and new designs that are introduced each season.




We have 350-plus fabrics in the studio to choose from and over 20 different styles which makes for a lot of interesting situations, she says. All of the products are named after a sentiment (the Portobello Road Bag in honor of a popular London market) or a customer (the Mia Diaper Bag after a clients first daughter). Her personal life plays a strong influence as her Sweet Saloni line of handmade cards is named after her daughter, while the In Our Backyard photography cards were inspired by her homes natural surroundings.




Sunisha Designs offers services such as monogramming, a birthday registry, home delivery and nationwide shipping. And whether you walk in and buy a handbag off the rack or take the time to design a custom handbag, there is no additional charge. Each customer is invited to have tea or coffee and something sweet to nibble on when they arrive. An environment you cant find in a retail store.




Although the custom boutique started out by making gift and wine bags and stationary, Manishas business now focuses primarily on handbags and gift accessories, making an average of 25-50 clutches, messenger bags, totes, handmade cards and the like each month. The company believes strongly in giving back to the community and commits to at least five charitable events each year including those for the Childrens Home Society, American Lung Association, the International Visitors Corps of Jacksonville and the North Florida Chapter of the Leukemia & Lymphoma Society.




No two bags are alike, Manisha says. People love that.