Stroke of genius: Japanese brand Shaquda's range of brushes

The award-winning Japanese brand Shaquda aspires to create aesthetically rich products that soothe the skin and enrich the mind. Characterising itself as the ‘fusion of Kumani traditional techniques and modern sensibility,’ the brand is based in Kumano, a Japanese town best known for its 180-year tradition in brush making and where it acquired its superior crafting techniques.

Through three key elements at the firm’s core – craftsmanship, design and style ­– Shaquda hopes to support a new standard of lifestyle that adopts inherited techniques and simple styling. As well as creating products that function superbly, the company is heavily focused on the look of its brushes, stating that the collections have been designed to be ‘simple, gracious and detailed with a sophisticated expressive design’. Shaquda advises that the brushes be used every moring and night, adding a new dimension of both spiritual and literal cleansing to your daily routine.

The Shaquda brand is comprised of two central product ranges: the aforementioned 'Ubu' collection of makeup brushes; and 'Suvé', a line of skincare brushes. Described as ‘pure form inspired by authentic style’, 'Ubu' is the smaller of the collections, with a handful of environmentally friendly makeup brushes on offer. 'Suvé', on the other hand, is a line of organic skincare brushes made of badger hair, goat hair and walnut.

With its minimal design style and pure intent, Shaquda will have very little criticism to brush off.