Going Bespoke with Atelier @mila.jito aka Lili: Palm Mirus 21 in Fauve Barenia GHW

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#16
SpicyTuna13 said:
Atelier: Lili Storella (United States)
Instagram: mila.jito

Back Story:
Like so many of you, I have been a handbag aficionado for many years. At this point in my life, I feel very blessed to have curated a nice designer/luxury handbag collection, mostly from Hermes, Chanel, and Louis Vuitton. As far as Hermes, there are only a few bags left on my wishlist: B25/B30 in Bambou (GHW or PHW) and Vert de Gris (GHW). I have been waiting on these particular bags for YEARS. I finally had a podium order for a B30 VdG Togo GHW a few years ago – however, for whatever reason, the H gods never brought it to fruition. In the interim, I was offered a B30 Bambou Togo PHW, but alas, it was a verso with a Caramel interior. In my opinion, the Caramel interior “warmed” up the bag which I felt harshly clashed with the “cool” and crisp PHW. If that verso combo was offered with GHW, it would have been a no-brainer for me. I do still continue to purchase items I covet from luxury designer houses – for example, seasonal H cashmere and silk scarves and CDC bracelets; however, my desire for items is starting to naturally decline as I’ve been a collector for many years now (i.e. how many scarves and/or CDC bracelets does one really need?) In the meantime, I’ve been inspired by many of the threads on TPF re: bespoke bags….so here we are. On Christmas 2022, @Christofle and I were private messaging about bespoke Himalayan pieces when he directed me to a few ateliers on Instagram. I absolutely despise social media, but my degree of love for handbags is more (LOL), so begrudgingly, with his nudge (yes, I blame him, LOL), I went and peeked around. Of course, I looked over Peter Nitz’s designs – no question re: spot-on craftsmanship, but the designs didn’t overall speak to me. However, I took a look at the Mirus bag (@mila.jito) on Instagram, and I was completely smitten and enamored with the design, functionality, and versatility – the rest was history. Of note, each Mirus bag comes with a detachable M harness for a crossbody option.

Ordering Process:
First, smooth Barenia is one of my absolute favorite leather hides of all time. I contacted Lili via Instagram and confirmed she sourced her Barenia leather from Haas tannery (similar to Hermes). I decided on a Mirus 21 in Fauve Barenia GHW since I love the specs having already own an Hermes B30 Smooth Fauve Barenia w/ GHW – just now desiring a drastically different size. Overall, she was extremely patient with all of my questions and extremely rapid in her responses and communication throughout the entire process with me. She provided multiple interior color options to choose from. I wanted a dark/navy blue interior which was not one of the original options – Lili went above and beyond and kindly asked her supplier for dark/navy blue options and came back with a total of four (4) for me to choose from. She requested my height so she could properly measure out my M harness. I told her my initials for the embossed name tag. I placed the order on 12/27/2022. Given her schedule at the time, it was estimated that my bag would be ready by mid-May 2023.

Order Details:
Mirus 21 (i.e. Palm Mirus)
Size – 21 cm W x 12 cm D x 15 cm H
Smooth Fauve Barenia
Contrast White/Natural Stitching
GHW
Dark/Navy Blue Interior

The Mirus bag is currently offered in the Mirus 21 (Palm Size), Mirus 26, Mirus 30, and Mirus 35. The Mirus 21 (Palm Size) starts at around $4200 and goes up depending on the type of leather you choose (i.e. calfskin/goatskin/Barenia vs. exotics/alligator or crocodile). Of course, the price adjusts depending on the size Mirus you choose as well. Himalayan Croc is an option.

Finally:
Fast forward a few months -- the bag arrives on my doorstep via FedEx 05/06/2023. It arrives carefully packaged/wrapped in a huge H-size designer box with a dustbag. Personally, I could do without the box, but it was still a nice touch.

Pics (including with my B30)
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Comparison (Palm Mirus vs. B30):
  • Barenia – mostly identical -- same smooth/velvety feel, same Barenia smell, same Barenia qualities whereas it scratches easily but easily buffed out via hand, water spots fade; however, the fauve color is ever so slightly darker in the Mirus; and the Mirus has an ever so slightly smoother feel perhaps because it’s brand new compare to the B30 which is from 2017 (this is me being very discerning here – my husband who is extremely picky could not decipher the difference and felt the leathers were the same)
  • Contrast Stitching – identical – both high-quality handstitched
  • Interior – I’m not certain what kind of leather hide the Mirus interior is, but the Mirus appears to have a chevre-like quality to it, at least by look and touch; one interior slip pocket; by the way, @880, I know, I know, the dark/navy blue interior w/ fauve Barenia creates a Ralph Lauren feel, but hey, that it my thing apparently lol
  • Hardware – the feet of the Mirus bag are stainless steel with real gold plating – they appear darker in color than the B30 GHW feet; it is unclear what kind of metal is used for the Mirus buckles – they do appear to match the Mirus feet in hue though
  • Closure – the Mirus has a strong magnetic closure – yay, no zippers to scratch your hands/fingers, but neither does the Birkin so it’s a wash
  • M Harness – the harness is made in Barenia leather and has an “interior” contrast that matches the interior of the bag; the harness is secured via a single snap button closure and is extremely quick and easy to maneuver; the crossbody option fits me, but given my big boobs, I only wish I told Lili I was taller so it could fit me exactly the way I prefer – so keep that in mind if you have a similar body type
I used the bag for the first time today (hence all the small scratches on the Barenia in the photos, those were done by me, hehe). It is absolutely gorgeous. I’ve already had someone random who I’ve never met point it out and inquire about it in quick passing.

Overall, it took quite a while for me to take the bespoke plunge -- thank you and a huge shout out to:
@880 – Thank you for sharing your Duret Buffalo Dalmatian Bag commission with Duret which helped me take a step forward.
@etoupebirkin – Thank you for sharing your Dream Bag commission with Peter Nitz which helped me take another step forward.
@Christofle – Thank you for urging me to log into Instagram (grrr, I hate social media) and for introducing me to several bespoke ateliers which truly pushed me over the edge.

No financial disclosures.

Hope you all enjoy!
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Congratulations! Thank you for sharing your experience. Hope that you'll update us how it will wear!
 
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#17
@SpicyTuna13, I keep coming back to admire your bag! :love: I've been hunting for a large, hand carry tote, mostly for times I need to carry a lot of paperwork/file folders. Having used your 26 for a few days, do you have any thoughts on how this would translate into a 35 (functonality, weight, etc...)? I do wish it was also offered in a 28, as an everyday bag, as I think 26 would be too small for me. Will appreciate hearing your thoughts. :flowers:
 
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#18
etoile de mer said:
@SpicyTuna13, I keep coming back to admire your bag! :love: I've been hunting for a large, hand carry tote, mostly for times I need to carry a lot of paperwork/file folders. Having used your 26 for a few days, do you have any thoughts on how this would translate into a 35 (functonality, weight, etc...)? I do wish it was also offered in a 28, as an everyday bag, as I think 26 would be too small for me. Will appreciate hearing your thoughts. :flowers:
Click to expand...
You could always just ask her about a 28 though.
 
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#19
etoile de mer said:
@SpicyTuna13, I keep coming back to admire your bag! :love: I've been hunting for a large, hand carry tote, mostly for times I need to carry a lot of paperwork/file folders. Having used your 26 for a few days, do you have any thoughts on how this would translate into a 35 (functonality, weight, etc...)? I do wish it was also offered in a 28, as an everyday bag, as I think 26 would be too small for me. Will appreciate hearing your thoughts. :flowers:
Click to expand...
Hi there —

Mine is actually the smallest size — it’s a Mirus 20 (aka Palm Mirus).

Lili sources at least some of not all of her leathers from Haas. Hermes also sources from Haas. Thus, if you are familiar with H leathers, I believe her bags would be comparable in terms of weight.

My bag feels just as sturdy/weighty as my H bag in Barenia — of course the H bag is heavier, but the H bag also 9 cm bigger. My Mirus was in a rain/hailstorm today and it is behaving just like H Barenia. Water spots disappeared.

Lili recently told me she is offering a Mirus 30 as an option. As @Christofle suggested, you could also contact her and see if she’d be willing to make a Mirus 28 for you. It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask.

Good luck — if there is anything else I can do to help with your decision, (whether yes or no), don’t hesitate to ask more questions.
 
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#20
SpicyTuna13 said:
Hi there —

Mine is actually the smallest size — it’s a Mirus 20 (aka Palm Mirus).

Lili sources at least some of not all of her leathers from Haas. Hermes also sources from Haas. Thus, if you are familiar with H leathers, I believe her bags would be comparable in terms of weight.

My bag feels just as sturdy/weighty as my H bag in Barenia — of course the H bag is heavier, but the H bag also 9 cm bigger. My Mirus was in a rain/hailstorm today and it is behaving just like H Barenia. Water spots disappeared.

Lili recently told me she is offering a Mirus 30 as an option. As @Christofle suggested, you could also contact her and see if she’d be willing to make a Mirus 28 for you. It certainly doesn’t hurt to ask.

Good luck — if there is anything else I can do to help with your decision, (whether yes or no), don’t hesitate to ask more questions.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much @SpicyTuna13. Gosh, yes, I now see you previously noted yours is the Mirus Palm! Glad to hear it behaves like H Barenia, too. I need to replace an old tote, and have been searching for something like this. I really just don't want to chase anything at Hermes, anymore! Especially when a bag like this ticks so many boxes for me (beautifully crafted, with a clean, elegant, functional design).
 
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#21
etoile de mer said:
Thanks so much @SpicyTuna13. Gosh, yes, I now see you previously noted yours is the Mirus Palm! Glad to hear it behaves like H Barenia, too. I need to replace an old tote, and have been searching for something like this. I really just don't want to chase anything at Hermes, anymore! Especially when a bag like this ticks so many boxes for me (beautifully crafted, with a clean, elegant, functional design).
Click to expand...
I think the Mirus 35 would be a good work bag option, similar volume to a B35. It can be weighty though depending on the leather chosen – she does weigh one of her goatskin Mirus 35 bags and it came out to 2 lbs. 2 oz — it’s on her Instagram page. I’m not sure what the interior would look like on a Mirus 35, perhaps it differs since it’s bigger — I imagine at minimum there is a slip pocket — there may be some pics on her Instagram; if not, she could show you. A neat feature that I think looks best on the Mirus 35 is the little snap-button pouch which is an added option (additional cost, about $600-$800 or so).

Just take the time to really think. It’s essentially an SO — leather type, stitching, hardware (SHW, GHW, matte black hardware are what I’ve seen recently). The Barenia options at the moment are dark red, gray, navy blue, fauve/brown, and a dark chocolate brown. I was looking recently for a Vert Cypres option in a regular calfskin/goatskin, and she was able to source malachite, bambou, cactus, among others.

She is extremely patient with lots of questions.
 
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#22
SpicyTuna13 said:
I think the Mirus 35 would be a good work bag option, similar volume to a B35. It can be weighty though depending on the leather chosen – she does weigh one of her goatskin Mirus 35 bags and it came out to 2 lbs. 2 oz — it’s on her Instagram page. I’m not sure what the interior would look like on a Mirus 35, perhaps it differs since it’s bigger — I imagine at minimum there is a slip pocket — there may be some pics on her Instagram; if not, she could show you. A neat feature that I think looks best on the Mirus 35 is the little snap-button pouch which is an added option (additional cost, about $600-$800 or so).

Just take the time to really think. It’s essentially an SO — leather type, stitching, hardware (SHW, GHW, matte black hardware are what I’ve seen recently). The Barenia options at the moment are dark red, gray, navy blue, fauve/brown, and a dark chocolate brown. I was looking recently for a Vert Cypres option in a regular calfskin/goatskin, and she was able to source malachite, bambou, cactus, among others.

She is extremely patient with lots of questions.
Click to expand...

Thanks so much for all the additional info, appreciated. :flowers: Does she ship from abroad or is she in the US? And, do you know if she offers any aftercare?
 
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#23
etoile de mer said:
Thanks so much for all the additional info, appreciated. :flowers: Does she ship from abroad or is she in the US? And, do you know if she offers any aftercare?
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Lili is in the USA.

I believe she ships worldwide with the exception of exotic skins — exotic skins are shipped within the US only.

She is able to provide CITES for Himalayan Croc. If there is another exotic hide that piques your interest, I would inquire if CITES is offered prior to ordering (just a personal preference).

Not sure about aftercare. I’ll reach out to her and report back here.
 
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#25
SpicyTuna13 said:
Lili is in the USA.

I believe she ships worldwide with the exception of exotic skins — exotic skins are shipped within the US only.

She is able to provide CITES for Himalayan Croc. If there is another exotic hide that piques your interest, I would inquire if CITES is offered prior to ordering (just a personal preference).

Not sure about aftercare. I’ll reach out to her and report back here.
Click to expand...

Thank you!
 
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