The Little Shoebox in Ruxton sells a line of evening bags with an interesting background story: They’re all hand-knit by senior citizens. Designer Sarah Oliver employs knitters, average age 88, from The Redwoods Retirement Community in Mill Valley, California to make the materials for the chic handbags she produces. The group, which calls itself the Purlettes +1 (the plus one is for the only male in the group), has inspired the designer to create more knitting groups around the country.
“With every Sarah Oliver handbag, we are empowering seniors, giving them a newfound sense of purpose and community,” Oliver told Marin magazine last year. “Our knitters say they never dreamed they would be hired to knit bags, and that their creations would come to be sold all over the world.”
See The Purlettes +1 story in the video, above, and see the handbags, locally, at The Little Shoebox.
The Little Shoebox is located at 7625 Bellona Avenue in Ruxton. For more information see the The Little Shoebox Facebook page or call 410-825-3191.
