ISU students now have the opportunity to tote the most fashionable handbags carried by celebrities such as Paris Hilton, Nicole Richie and Lindsay Lohan after the recent opening of La La Handbags in Campustown.

Shawn Llewellyn and La Cathi Fakih opened the store Sept. 24 at 2408 Lincoln Way. The store sells knockoff handbags and other accessories such as sunglasses, belts and scarves. The boutique is one of a few retail stores in Campustown.

The duo said they opened the store in Campustown because they saw a potential market with the college crowd. Llewellyn said he was not worried about the success.

“There is nothing like this in Campustown or in Ames,” he said. “We believe we have very good merchandise. If you have a good product, people will come.”

Because Campustown does not have many retail outlets, Fakih said she thinks the store will be fun and exciting for students. If they get bored and want to shop, they can simply walk to La La’s, she said.

“Our first week, a couple of girls came in screaming and saying thank you,” she said. “We’re carrying something no one else has. You would have to go to Chicago, New York or California.”

In addition to the Campustown location, the pair has owned a handbag store in Des Moines for more than a year. The Des Moines store has been very successful despite its out-of-the-way location, said Fakih. The Ames store is already doing triple the amount of business, she said.

In the first week, the store pulled in $3,200 in sales.

The store has been extremely busy, especially on weekends, Fakih said. Hot sellers include seat belt bags and Gucci and Balenciaga knockoffs. They offer purses that sell for up to $1,500 as originals for $20 to $40, she said.

“They’re very similar-looking to the originals,” Llewellyn said.

Jennifer Lowrance, freshman in liberal arts and sciences-open-option, decided to shop at La La Handbags because several of her friends had said good things about it. She walked out of the store after purchasing a black seat belt purse and sunglasses, and said she would likely return.

Megan Moore, freshman in liberal arts and sciences-open option, said she decided to splurge when she picked up a new olive green shoulder purse from the store.

“I really like it. They had it all categorized, which made it easy to find everything,” she said.