I'm not really much of a makeup user due to hyper-sensitive skin but my mom, cousins and aunts are big Shu Uemura fans and MAC brush fans. Shu Uemura has both natural hair and synthetic hair and has had both options available in a zippered mini 4-brush travel set. Most of their most popular types are available in both regular long handled and travel short handled versions so you're not just limited to what is available in the set. They also have the smaller versions of their makeup and brush organizers too. Unfortunately, Shu Uemura redid their stores and online presence a number of years ago and their full line, while still being made, is hard to find. I suspect that they might have gone back to splitting up their trade and retail lines.

MAC used to have a store location on Gay St in NY and despite it being a very small store somehow it was one of the stores that got all the popular must-have items even out-of-season. I'm not sure if there is a new location equivalent where MAC sends all their stuff.