Best of Cleveland 2017: Waxed Canvas Handbags

We could wax on about how crucial it is to have a handbag that can hold up under the pressures of real life — dropping the kids off at school, running to meetings with a laptop in tow and grabbing drinks with friends after work. That’s why we love carrying Ellie Jane Bags. The Sawyer (starting at $199), is made with waxed canvas that is heavy-duty but has that perfect, lived-in look for the woman on the go. This stylish statement piece can hold diapers, sippy cups, MacBooks, an arsenal of makeup and more. For founder Sarah Larson, who started her line of six styles of totes, handbags and clutches in 2015, it’s all about handcrafting bags that are timeless. She alone cuts and sews every inch of the American-sourced fabric — which comes in brown, tan, gray and olive — and attaches every buckle and strap. “When you make something by hand, you are putting yourself in it,” Larson says. “There’s a lot of care, precision and thought in everything I create.” elliejanebags.etsy.com