Design-Your-Own Handbag Concept Takes Off
Design-Your-Own Handbag Concept Takes Off
1154 LILL STUDIO is the original “design your own” handbag boutique. Established in 1999 by owner Jennifer Velarde, the firm currently has three boutiques located in Chicago, Boston and Kansas City.
1154 W. Lill Street in Chicago’s Lincoln Park neighborhood was the address of the studio condo where Velarde lived when she first began creating LILL Bags in 1998. It was the first time she lived by herself and it was the first place that she owned. She decorated it in bright, warm, cheerful colors, set up her sewing machine and created a creative “art studio” space for herself.
As she began creating handbags and moved away from the corporate world, this work and play space began to represent her business ideas, her independence and the birthplace of a new creative concept that she was excited to share with others – a custom handbag line. It was a natural fit to name the new company and the new line 1154 LILL STUDIO.
Also known for their handbag parties, 1154 LILL opens up the boutique locations for groups to come in and design together. If there is not a boutique nearby, Local LILL makes it possible for reps across the nation to throw parties out of private homes and offices. An easy-to-use, interactive website, www.1154lill.com, makes it possible for customers to design and create with the click of a mouse.
1154 LILL STUDIO has a number of styles to choose from as well as a great selection of fun and fresh fabrics that are always changing. Ready-made bags are available for those that just can’t wait and are the same price as those that are customized. The LILL Experience is all about creativity, customization and fun.
Customers get to design their own LILL Bags by selecting from hundreds of fresh, ever-changing fabrics for the exterior, interior, straps and more of their chosen handbag style. It is a great activity to share with friends or family.
A Bit of History
When Velarde’s first started designing handbags, her favorite activity quickly became the hunt for textures, patterns and colors that spoke to her. She couldn’t wait to see how different fabrics would work together as a handbag and soon realized that she loved the thrill of creating and wanted to share this experience with others.
Velarde shared her dreams and ideas with college friend Robin Newberry who she enlisted to help out during the first public showing of the line at a Chicago street fair in August of 1999. It was there that 1154 LILL’s niche “custom handbag” concept was first introduced. A limited quantity of finished product required a brainstorm and the resulting idea is now the core concept of 1154 LILL STUDIO: let the customer choose their style, choose their fabrics and design their own custom-order bag! The creative experience that Jennifer enjoyed so much was shared with customers to rave reviews.
Soon, handbag appointments, parties and open house events were helping to spread the word about this new “design your own handbag” concept around Chicago and beyond. Newberry was soon able to leave her own corporate job to work with Velarde at 1154 LILL STUDIO full time, first with parties and events, and later moving into a fuller role as Vice President.
The next few years went quickly as 1154 LILL STUDIO moved three times before finding homes in its current Chicago retail boutique and its current Chicago design and administrative headquarters. Most recently, 1154 LILL has opened Boston and Kansas City boutiques, begun a “Local LILL” Home Handbag Party program across the country, and developed an interactive website allowing customers the chance to design their own LILL Bag online.
Though 1154 LILL started with one person, the 1154 LILL STUDIO of today is a place where many creative minds converge to produce not only an interesting product but an interesting experience, perfect to share with friends. ■
For more information, visit http://www.1154lill.com/.
