All About Viv
Susan
Botwick Murphy, a resident of Philadelphia, is a self-taught
artisan/designer who began sewing purses in 1999 after she was
intrigued by a handbag she saw in SoHo, NYC—but which she
thought was too expensive to buy. Eager to have it for her
growing purse collection, Murphy created a similar design,
sewed it herself and promptly sold it to a someone who coveted
it. This experience prompted Murphy to keep sewing purses and
totes on a part-time basis—to quell her undying desire for
fun, unique purses—and to enable friends, acquaintances and
family to perk up their own accessory collections. Thus, the
Viv Pickle™ concept was born. When she was laid-off from her
Marketing VP position in October 2001, Murphy focused her
energies on Viv Pickle full-time and, finding immediate
enthusiasm for her creations, decided to expand production in
2002.
Murphy
designs all Viv Pickle purses with the assistance of her
talented staff, selects all fabrics, and, with
her team of seamstresses, sews them at the Viv Pickle
Production Studio in the Northern Liberties section of
Philadelphia. Fabrics are typically vintage, upholstery, and
vintage reproductions—and hail from locales from all around
the world!
The
cornerstone of Viv Pickle’s success is the ability for
customers to design their own handbag – according to their own
taste and style. With this in mind, the Viv Pickle Custom
Handbag and Accessory Studio offers a collection of over
150 fabrics, linings and handles, from which customers
can design their handbag. Customers simply select a bag
style, fabric, handle and lining, and the staff at Viv Pickle
will create their bag by hand. In less than two years from
opening its doors, the Viv Pickle Custom Handbag Studio has
created nearly 10,000 handbags for fashionistas around the
globe and has expanded its roster of clients to include People
Magazine, Time Magazine, TV Guide Networks, Marie Claire
Magazine and Dean Witter!
Viv
Pickle handbags are available for purchase/order at the
company's custom handbag studio in Philadelphia and via Pickle Parties, unique gatherings
similar to Tupperware and Pampered Chef parties. To date,
tens of thousands of fashion-forward ladies of all ages have gathered
for Pickle Parties in homes and offices from Maryland to New
York —designing handbags and having fun in the
process!
All
Viv Pickle handbags are affordable with retail prices under
$100 – making it easy for everyone to own a truly unique and
fashionable accessory. Keeping Viv Pickle prices reasonable
is a strict guideline for Murphy—as she recognizes that not
everyone can afford well-known purses from designers such as
Kate Spade, Jane Fox, Hogan, and Lulu Guinness. Murphy hopes
that her Viv Pickle creations can satisfy fellow “purse
fanatic” desires to add some zest to their wardrobes—without
hurting their pocketbook!
And
what’s with this name Viv Pickle?? When Murphy was promoted
to Vice President at a previous job, her staff kiddingly
refused to call her by the title and came up with a new
definition for the term VP – Vivacious Pickle. Viv Pickle
became Murphy's nickname—and the ideal moniker for her
business.
