Bandits Bookshop was founded in 2024 by Laura Douglas, with some honorary involvement from her cat and mascot, Bandit. Based in Melbourne, the shop began as a way of letting go of books from my own collection. What started small quickly became something bigger: a pursuit of the kinds of books I’ve always searched for but so rarely came across in stores.

The focus here is on rare and out-of-print titles that move between photography, art, fashion, design, and counterculture. Each book is selected with care, not just because it’s hard to find, but because it carries something worth holding onto, whether that is a certain visual power, cultural weight, or quiet strangeness. Every title has been chosen with a personal connection, reflecting the same curiosity that first drew me to collect them.

Bandits exists as an independent and very DIY space, guided by taste rather than trends. It’s not about chasing what’s popular but about giving life back to books that risk being forgotten or overlooked. For me, it’s also about creating a place where people who share that same fascination can discover something unexpected, something that might spark a memory, a new idea, or simply the joy of finding a book you didn’t know you needed.

While the heart of Bandits will always be rare and out-of-print titles, I would also love to stock new releases one day that feel just as bold, lasting, and worth holding onto.