Little Black Bag

For Jessica Fallis, it all started with childhood dreams of lemonade stands and homemade button sales. The Charlotte-based entrepreneur set a goal to become a small-business owner by the age of thirty, and in 2003, with a couple of years to spare, she launched Black Dress & Pearls.
    Fallis’s line of customized fabric bags reflects her love of one-of-a-kind accessories. “I like everything to be unique,” she says. Cute fabrics like candy-colored seersucker and animal print combine with elegant monogramming to transform everyday totes into personalized treasures. The bags come in several shapes and sizes, from a small traveler’s jewelry option ($35) to a bejeweled evening piece ($250), plus a fun yet functional diaper tote ($110).
A special request led Fallis to add a line of aprons to her collection. The aprons come in the same range of fabrics as the bags and start at $40 each.
Brides can consult with Fallis to create customized gifts for the bridal party (just give her one or two months’ notice).     Her bags and aprons are only available online at www.blackdressandpearls.com, but plans are in the works to bring them to a Charlotte boutique soon. —Leah Szarek