SHORT ANSWER?...
What Makes Lilly & Jude Bags Different?
What Makes
Short Answer?
Everything.
EVERY
THING.
Well... It All Starts With
THE LEATHER
Leather from my latest rescue mission
Rescued, Not Manufactured
Let’s talk about the leather - because, to be fair, it’s the heart and soul of every Lilly & Jude bag.
First, here’s the cool bit: most of the leather I use is the very same stuff luxury, high-end furniture makers and car brands use for their posh sofas and super expensive interiors. We’re talking the highest grade Italian and British leathers - soft, supple, and built to last. But because the pieces are too small, have a crease, or a bit of “character,” they’re tossed aside. To the industry, they’re offcuts. To me, they’re treasure.
Unlike those so-called ‘designer’ bags (I'm mentioning no names...), I’m not ordering up loads of new, mass-produced leather made just for bags, which is often poor quality, over-processed, and destined to look tired after a season or two (y’know, so you have to go and buy another one from them). My leather has already been made, already served its original purpose, and is now getting a second life - one that’s a whole lot more interesting than mouldering in a tip or landfill, which is where it was heading.
Oh, and while we’re at it, let’s address the elephant in the (internet) room: You know those brands with the slick ads and “amazing bags” all over your social media feed? Most are buying mass-produced, plastic and nylon based bags from huge factories in China, and drop-shipping them straight to you - one. bag. at. a. time, halfway across the world. The carbon footprint? Huge.
We don’t drop ship and we don't order our bags in, slap a logo on them and call it a day.
That's not us.
Never has been.
Never will be.
Lilly & Jude bags are carefully handcrafted by one person in a small (very untidy) studio in the heart of Shropshire.
When you purchase from us, you’re not supporting fast fashion - these bags aren’t destined for those outrageous mountains of discarded clothes that end up polluting beaches and devastating communities. Instead, you’re giving world-class materials a second chance, championing true craftsmanship, and joining a rebellion against waste, mass production, and bland, soulless fashion.
Plus, you’re backing an independent label that genuinely cares - about you, your purchase, and our impact on the planet.
Leather vs. Faux Leather: The Cold, Hard Facts
Let’s cut through the marketing waffle, shall we?
These days, every other product seems to come with a halo and a side order of greenwashing.
Some brands would have you believe that plastic in a jazzy frock - sorry, ‘Vegan Leather’ - is saving the planet.
(Spoiler: it’s still plastic, and it sheds more microplastics than a Huskey sheds floof in summer.)
Truth is, not all “leather” is created equal, and not every eco-claim is worth its salt. So, before you treat yourself to your next purchase, let's have a nosey at how the facts really stack up:
CATEGORY |
RESCUED LEATHER |
FAUX LEATHER |
|---|---|---|
| Source | By-product of the food industry, rescued offcuts from British & Italian tanneries | Made from petrochemicals (oil-based plastic) |
| Manufacturing | Minimal extra processing, upcycled | Energy-intensive, uses toxic chemicals |
| Microplastics | None released | Sheds microplastics with wear |
| End-of-Life | Biodegradable (eventually), can be repaired | Rarely recyclable, ends up in landfill |
| Uniqueness | Every piece is different - just like people! | Mass-produced, cookie-cutter |
To find out more about this and sustainable fashion, visit Project Cece Here > Project Cece
We Strive for Perfectly Imperfect
This isn’t factory-perfect leather - and that’s exactly the point.
The leather I use has lived a life before it lands on my cutting table.
Those wrinkles? Proof of experience.
The pink chalk marks? Left behind by manufacturers who decided this leather wasn’t 'flawless' enough.
But here’s the thing: those so-called 'imperfections' are what make your bag beautifully, unapologetically unique.
Oh, and the leather smell? A-MAZING!
No two are the same. Just like you.
Mass-produced bags chase perfection. Mine celebrate character.
LUSH LININGS
Business on the Outside, Party on the Inside...
On the outside, she’s all classy and confident – the kind of bag you’d take to a grown-up meeting or a posh brunch. But unzip her and… Helloooo, Personality!
Every leather bag gets her own fabulous lining, matched to (*chef's kiss*) perfection. Each one’s made from rescued roll-ends, deadstock, or delightfully imperfect fabrics – chosen for their colour, character, or sheer vibe.
Because your bag should be full of surprises (and possibly snacks).
Unexpected, unapologetic, and undeniably you.
Because Women Deserve Pockets!
Let’s be honest - half the reason we need bags in the first place is because women’s clothes never come with proper pockets.
If they have pockets at all, they’re usually just decorative, flimsy, or barely big enough for a Tic Tac.
So I added some. Proper ones. Hidden zipper ones. Slip ones. Purse ones. Clever compartments to stash your essentials - and by “essentials”, yes, I do mean snacks, your meds, lip balm, biscuit crumbs and receipts from 2017 (or is that just me?).
Because a bag should be as useful as it is beautiful. And you’ve got better things to do than dig for your keys like you’re on an archaeological dig.
YEAH, I MADE IT.
I Made All the Bags on this Site
Each Lilly & Jude bag starts with a rescued hide and ends with a whole lot of love (and probably a few choice swear words).
Nothing here is mass-produced. Every bag is measured, cut, machine stitched and finished by hand - by me, in my little studio in Shropshire.
No conveyor belts. No sweatshops (although it does get bloody hot in here during the summer). Just slow fashion, made properly.
I design and make for durability, practicality, and proper personality.
And yeah - it takes time (a LOT of time), but the best things always do.
We're Not Perfect
Here's How...
ALL BAGS ARE MADE FROM RESCUED LEATHER
EACH BAG IS HANDCRAFTED IN THE UK
WE ONLY USE RECYCLABLE GIFT WRAPPING AND PACKAGING
WE USE ROYAL MAIL - THE MOST ECO-CONSCIOUS COURIER IN THE UK
NO MASS PRODUCTION - LIMITED EDITIONS ONLY
Look, we’re not claiming to be perfect (who is?), and we’re definitely not saying we’re single-handedly saving the planet with our handbags.
But we are doing what we can, where we can:
- We rescue beautiful leather and linings that were headed straight for landfill, give them a second chance, and turn them into slow-fashion bags made to last (and be loved).
- We package your orders in recyclable materials and ship them with Royal Mail - who just so happen to be the UK’s most eco-conscious delivery service.
- And when we’re off rescuing leather? We do it in our electric car. No diesel fumes - just good vibes, great music, and a boot stuffed with rescued scraps.
Also - and this is the important bit - when you buy a bag from Lilly & Jude, you’re not lining the pockets of some billionaire so they can buy their fourth yacht, or keep their moat clean. You’re supporting a small (slightly chaotic) studio in Shropshire, helping us to keep creating, and you'd be chipping in towards our dream of solar panels to power the studio.
Oh, and yes - we do pay our taxes (unlike some we could mention… 👀), so we can all keep enjoying little things like the NHS, education, and emergency services.
Just sayin'...
SHE'S PROPER TOUGH TOO.
Delicate? Nah, She's Double-Stitched.
Each Lilly & Jude bag is designed to handle real life - not just for looking pretty on a shelf.
I double-stitch stress points, reinforce where it matters (strap joins, zip ends, and bag bases), and choose solid, high-quality hardware that can take some use.
That said, your bag isn’t indestructible - she’s tough, but she’s still handmade. So maybe don’t drag her across gravel or use her to carry bricks, yeah?
Treat her well, and she’ll love you back for years.
Mass-Produced?
Absolutely Not!
At Lilly & Jude, no two bags are ever exactly the same. Yes, I use a few well-loved patterns - because when something works, why mess with it?
But the final bag? Always a one-off.
The leather? Rescued, varied, and gloriously unpredictable.
The lining? Handpicked from deadstock and roll-ends, never duplicated.
The hardware, strap, stitching? Swapped, matched and mood-dependent.
So even if the silhouette’s familiar, the soul of each bag is completely unique.
Meanwhile, out on the high street (and all over your ads), you’ll find cookie-cutter bags churned out by the thousand - all vinyl, no vibe. Same shapes, same colours, same billionaire boss.
Yawn.
We don't do that here. This is slow, soulful and unapologetically exclusive - without the ridiculous markup or the yacht fund donation.
So if you spot one you love, grab it.
Because there won’t be another.
Phew! That Was a Lot of Information!
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