Designer Michelle Li is the sole owner, designer and purveyor of Umlaut Studio LLC.

My association with fabric began at an early age, when as a child I would hand sew "pockets" that weren't attached to anything, but came in handy when I needed something to put a tooth in for the Tooth Fairy, or store my "treasures", like candy and rocks. By my 12th birthday, I had moved up from "pockets" and received my very own Singer sewing machine. This grew into sewing my own clothes in high school and even selling some of my original handmade creations in the school boutique. I studied fashion merchandising and design in high school and college, was a pattern maker and seamstress for a summer, and crafted and sold handmade beaded jewelry at local craft fairs. I also earned a BA in Fine Arts with an emphasis in Studio Art (i.e. drawing, painting, sculpting, etc.) from the University of Maryland. All these past experiences have come together in the handbags I design for my company. I began Umlaut Studio with a dream of doing something independent, and as a creative outlet to craft beautiful, yet functional and unique accessories.

Umlaut Studio bags are not mass-produced. Each boutique-style handbag is made by me and is fun and distinct, with an emphasis on design, detail, and quality.

I offer unique one-of-a-kind and/or extremely limited edition (usually no more than two), high-quality handbags that represent portable style. I personally design and handcraft the bags from my independent studio in Baltimore, MD with great care and attention. I always have my own high standards in mind and no item is listed for sale if I would not use it myself. I truly take pleasure and pride in my work and strongly believe in high quality design and construction so that the final product is one that you will enjoy for years.

The signature woven label adorns each and every Umlaut Studio bag. Both the lining and the shell are reinforced, independently, with strong fusible interfacing on the inside. All seams are double or triple-stitched for added durability.

Unless otherwise noted, all bags on this site are available for sale. My bags also make wonderful gifts! My goal is to offer enough variety so everyone will find a style they love. I would be bored making the same bag over and over. So you may see similar fabrics on some of my handbags, but rarely the same bag twice. I hope you find one you love. If not now come back again. I will always have fresh new designs.

Thanks for visiting my site and swing by often to see the latest additions to the collection. I love to hear from customers and answer any question you may have so please don't hesitate to contact me.