If you’re at all familiar with Buffalo, New York, you’ve likely heard of the Bills Mafia.
Bills Mafia is the passionate, tight-knit fan base of the NFL’s Buffalo Bills. What started in 2010 as a social media hashtag has grown into one of the most recognizable and dedicated fan communities in sports.
Known for their loyalty, generosity, and sometimes over-the-top game day traditions (yes, including jumping through folding tables), Bills Mafia represents the heart of Buffalo — resilient, spirited, and always all-in, no matter the weather or the record.
When I decided I was moving to Buffalo, I knew being part of such an iconic fandom would be part of it. As a college football fan, I’ve tried my best to embrace NFL Sundays; I’m learning the nuances in the rules of the game and buying the merch.
So yes, I’ve got some official Buffalo Bills sweatshirts and beanies, some other various red and blue clothing items and accessories, but I wanted to make something fun that would really put the final touch on my game day outfits: a clear fanny pack decorated with Bills’ red and blue!
I already had a clear fanny pack with white trim that I got for free while I was working at Ulta. I used thread I already had to sew over all the areas where the straps connected to the bag — I wanted to make sure everything was securly attached and wouldn’t come apart during any game day festivities!
Then, I searched for varsity letters in the right shade of red and blue to spell out: GO BILLS on the front of the bag. This was honestly more difficult than I anticipated because, while a lot of Etsy shops carry the varsity letters, I had a size limit (i was looking for letters 2-inches tall or shorter) and a color constraint.
Lots of shops had pastel colors or pink and purple, but classic red and blue involved a search!
Once I found a shop, I purchased letters to write “GO” in blue and “BILLS” in red. When the letters arrived, I measured the space I had on the front of the bag and attached them to the front. The letters had their own adhesive on the back, which seemed really strong.
However, I decided to sew each letter to the bag as well. This part was time-consuming, but I knew it would be worth it!
Once the letters were sewn on, the bag was really looking great. I wanted to add one more detail to the bag, so I dug through my bead collection and found some red, blue, black, and white smiley face beads. I used them to create a little set of charms on the bag’s zipper!
I love how it turned out and am excited to wear it on game days. It will be perfect to wear in the stadium, but also fun for watch parties anywhere. Honestly, in Buffalo, Bills gear is in style every single day, anywhere you go!
What’s something you’ve DIY-ed for your team?!
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