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I see a lot of handbags during rush hour on the Red Line, and most of them are not to be envied (Laminated mini-gym bags? Really?) But about once per commute, I catch a glimpse of a bag that makes me want to run home and scour the couch cushions for change to start a new-bag fund. And usually, those bags are custom creations from 1154 Lill Studio.
There’s a do-it-yourself outpost on Armitage, where Chicago’s crafty chicas can choose from 18 bag styles and more than 200 patterns and textures of fabrics to create their own carry-alls. I’ve avoided going myself because I know I would obsess over all the choices and end up blowing a fortune on bags and accessories. So until my “new-bag fund” change jar is full, I’m making a game of spotting Lincoln Park Trixies with their 1154 Lills and thinking of all the possibilities for my own bag.
Non-Chicagoans with a creative streak can design their own bags or buy direct on the 1154 Lill Studio website. Find more ways to get original, like personalized purses and customized skincare in our Custom Creations newsletter.
