A Unique Shopping Experience in Philadelphia: Viv Pickle Custom Handbag Studio

If you're from the Philadelphia area, you may have already heard about the trendy Old City handbag shop called Viv Pickle's. What makes the Viv Pickle purse studio so unique is that shopper's can order one-of-a kind customized handbags. Customers pick the fabric, select the shape for their purse (the bucket style is one of the most popular), choose from a variety of handles and linings and select any other extras they may want - from zippers to extra pockets to monograms and more.

The brainchild of former marketing VP Susan Murphy, the pickle purse phenomenon started out as a fluke. Murphy created a homemade duplicate of a purse she had seen on a shopping trip to New York. A stranger saw the purse and asked Murphy to sell it to her. The rest, as Philly locals and Pickle aficionados would like to say, is history.

One of the coolest things about the Viv Pickle Purse shop is that customers in the Philadelphia area can have Murphy or one of her co-workers come to their house to host a Pickle Party. Just as a group of friends would get together for any other type of home party (think Mary Kay), the Viv Pickle Parties are a way for women to get together with their friends and look through the Pickle fabric catalogs, check out ready-made handbag samples and order products direct.

Because the growing company is so popular, you may have to book a Pickle party months in advance. Also, because each bag is handmade to the customer's specifications, orders can take up to 2 months to be shipped. But it is well worth the wait.

Besides purses, the Viv Pickle line includes change purses, beach totes, messenger bags - even diaper bags. The optional green pickle logo can be sewn on to your bag - or not. Either way you're sure to create a unique bag that will suit your needs and garner lots of compliments. Most designs cost under one hundred dollars - and that includes options like leather straps and a cell phone pocket. You can check out some of the available styles and fabrics on the company's website, http://vivpickle.com