We're counting down to the Urban Street Bazaar in Bishop Arts sponsored by Make on October 10-11, a craft fair extravaganza where handmade fiends can touch and try on many of the products featured in these Buy Indie Wednesday blurbs. One of the more than 60 vendors signed up for the sale is Lolafalk by Lauren Falkowski, a line of bags we've been crushing on for months.
Falkowski starts with a formula two-purse gals might appreciate: a simple plan for a tote, a large bag, two clutches (one fold-over style, one coin-purse style), a larger variation of the coin-purse clutch with a strap, and a catch-all mini-zip. Each of the bags are assigned a style name. Then things get nuts. Never using the same mix of color, texture, or print, Falkowski constructs a tote with yellow diamonds near brown and red stripes, or a clutch with black-and-white gingham print, ruffled green taffeta trim and bright blue beads for the strap. It's all handmade and hand cut.
Sound like a clash party? Click through Lolafalk's Etsy shop like we did and see how the designer pulls off madness within limits.
The deal: Lola Mini-Zip, $29. Part with your bulky shoulder bag for a dance or a quick Emergen-C run with this little cutie on your wrist. The pretty plum taffeta in this version will light up the club without sacrificing an easy-going style; the cotton lining makes carrying makeup less fussy.
The splurge: Jackie Bag, $78. Falkowski is forthcoming about the inspiration for this treasure -- just consult the style name. It's easy to imagine a certain foxy former first lady brought to 2009 with the vegan leather and satin strap resting neatly on her shoulder, a work of art with electric blue suede and lemon cotton trim against a classic jacket. Jackie O might see her sunglasses on every dame that passes, but she'd be the only one with this bag.
P.S.: Consult the Lolafalk blog for quirky shoes, beautiful photos, and other colorful treats that inform Falkowski's handiwork.
