This year has been a wild ride for small businesses — and let’s be real — it’s been tough. But instead of letting that get me down, I decided to flip the script, throw on my ✨CFO hat✨, and embrace a “use what you have” mindset! After moving my business to NJ this year, it really felt like the perfect time to start fresh.
Because everything you now see here is made by hand (by me — hi! 👋 Julie here!), I’ve been getting back to basics and getting really creative with the materials I already have in my studio. The move to NJ came with a new way of doing business - I no longer have a team and everything is done the way it used to be done - by me - and only me.
✂️ From Cutting Factory to Creative Challenge
Here’s a peek behind the glitter curtain:
I’ve always had my raw materials shipped to a cutting factory, where they slice the yardage down to my specific clutch sizes. Then I pick up those sheets and build each bag from scratch!
But when we’d run out of smaller pre-cut sizes (like when only Classic clutch pieces were left, but I needed Midi ones), I’d end up cutting them down by hand. Normally, these “cut-downs” would go to waste (ugh 😭), but I’ve been hoarding them for years while I figured out what to do with them.
This year — with my “use what you have” mindset — those leftover pieces sparked something totally new. I started designing fresh bag sizes and silhouettes based on the narrower-than-usual cuts that were piling up in my studio… and honestly? I’m obsessed with how they turned out.
Even I get tired of looking at the same things sometimes (shocking, I know! 😂), so these new styles feel like such a fun refresh! Along with my cutting patterns, my custom brass XOXO zippers (you know and love them!) in 11", 10", 7", and 5" lengths helped determine what was possible — and what came out of that combo? Pure glittery magic.
Here’s what’s new in the Julie Mollo lineup:
✨ Classic Narrow Clutch
Think of this as your favorite Classic Clutch’s slightly slimmer, sassier sister! She’s 1 inch shorter in length (10” vs 11”) and 1.5” shorter in height (4” vs 5.5”), with a wider 2” bottom that gives her a new silhouette while still keeping all the sparkle and storage you love. It’s a single sheet that wraps around the bottom — sleek and chic!
🌟 OVERSIZED Clutch!
This one’s a total showstopper! Made from five sheets of cut-down vinyl, the new Oversized Clutch puts your name (or your fave shape!) front and center, framed by beautiful seams. It’s bold, it’s balanced, and it’s giving main character energy.
💕 TEENY TINY Clutches!
If a Toothbrush Clutch and a Keychain Clutch had a baby… this would be it. 🍼✨
The day I figured out this shape and posted it to Instagram, I don’t think I’ve ever seen you Mollowers react like that before! These adorable new minis come in five improved styles — and I’m already dreaming up more! A Mollower on instagram called them Miniature Mollos and I might even love that name more!
So yeah — it’s been a challenging year, but it’s also been one of the most creatively exciting ones yet. Necessity really is the mother of invention, and sometimes, using what you have leads to something even better (and sparklier 💖).
Thanks for sticking with me, supporting my small business, and helping me turn cuts into new classics. Now go meet the new sizes — I can’t wait for you to fall in love with them! ✨