JUST when you thought late night shopping in Glasgow couldn't get any better they've only gone an extra especially stylish mile and commissioned five of Scotland's top designers to create an exclusive collection of limited edition tote bags inspired by evening shopping.

The design talent behind the must-have bags are William Chambers, Rebecca Torres, Joanne McGillivray, Obscure Couture and Silvia Pellegrino, and each bag features a unique illustration by the designers using a bright, fluorescent on trend 'colour pop' to ensure avid shoppers will stand out from the crowd this summer.

Needless to say as Glasgow's favourite newspaper, the Evening Times has secured an exclusive first look at these fantastic late night shopping designs, which look set to be highly collectable in their own right.

Anne Ledgerwood, chairwoman of Glasgow's City Centre Retail Association is ecstatic with the results.

She said: "These designers are the cream of Scottish design talent and we're thrilled they've chosen to partner with the Glasgow Style Mile on this project.

"Extended shopping hours were brought in last year on the back of customer demand and with the lighter nights upon us and the city getting ready for a truly momentous summer, the extended opening hours are key to ensuring our customers from home and abroad can enjoy an outstanding shopping experience over the coming months."

And while it may be true that the early bird catches the worm, it's the fashionably late chicks who'll bag these bags.

The canvas totes will be completely free to late night shoppers making purchases after 5pm from Monday 16 until June 30 at five Style Mile retailers.

Snap them up at Debenhams, House of Fraser or in selected stores at Buchanan Galleries, the St Enoch Centre, and Princes Square.

The designer bags are available to customers on request at selected till points and customer service desks in participating stores, with one bag permitted per customer, so if you fancy getting your hands on one I'd suggest you be fast on your feet as bags are only available while stocks last.

The Style Mile Designer Bag Collection Designers are:

WILLIAM CHAMBERS: The award-winning milliner, who has recently set up a studio in The Italian Centre, gives us a traffic light 'green man', sporting a dapper hat and carrying a distinctive William Chambers hat box.

Asked about his thoughts on the design, William said: "The bag is a fun concept and I loved creating the sketch for it. I wanted it to look positive and encourage folk to get up and go, so the green man from a pelican crossing seemed an appropriate symbol for this, and it also tied in with night time in the city centre.

"I popped a wee Trilby on his head and a nice hatbox in his hand.

"I have this romantic vision that he's just bought a beautiful hat for his wife or girlfriend, although we've yet to have a male customer come into our shop and do this."

JOANNE McGILLVRAY: The fashion and jewellery designer, delivers an illustration of Buchanan Street, infused with detailed flowers and shapes highlighted in neon yellow.

She said: "Glasgow has one of the most vibrant and exciting shopping scenes in the UK and I'm delighted to be part of this project to showcase everything that's great about it.

"I often need to work late myself so have been taking full advantage of the later shopping hours in the city centre.

"I hope these bags give Glasgow shoppers another great reason to enjoy shopping later in the city centre this summer."

REBECCA TORRES: The innovative fashion designer has offered up a striking digital illustration of Glasgow's shopping scene, using fuchsia pink, black and white.

On the subject of the collaboration, she was especially proud.

She said: "I was so grateful to be asked to be a part of this project.

"Being a Glasgow-based designer this is a great way to celebrate the talent we have and also how stylish our city is."

OBSCURE COUTURE: The uber cool designers who put fun into fashion came up with a design featuring a female shopping on the city's Style Mile, with bright blue streetlights highlighting her glamorous dress.

Clearly inspired by Glasgow's fashionistas, they were honoured to be included in the project.

A spokesman said: "We have depicted The Style Mile as a catwalk, with our model walking down highlighted in sparkling blue lights.

"Essentially Buchanan Street is the heart of The Style Mile, and it's like a catwalk every single day.

"Glasgow has such awesome individual style and we can now show it off and shop till much later than ever before."

SILVIA PELLEGRINO: The fashion designer at ChouChou came up with a design featuring a Glasgow girl wearing a bright orange fur trimmed tartan coat.

Silvia found unexpected inspiration in our less than perfect weather.

She said: "I wanted to design something that represented my personal experience of living in Glasgow.

"So I thought the elements of rain and the hoods had to be presented in a very positive way.

"I'm so pleased with the final result, the first time I tried the printed bag on I almost screamed with happiness thinking of how many people will be able to enjoy it.

"I love the idea of a fashionable accessory that you can take shopping, travelling, to a beach, anywhere you like."

l More than 200 stores in the city centre are open until 7pm on Mondays, Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Fridays, and until 8pm on Thursdays.

For more information on Glasgow's late night shopping, visit www.glasgowstylemile.com