Philadelphia Weekly

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Specialty: Bags and accessories.

Where to find it: Viv Pickle (21 N. Third St. 215.922.5904. www.vivpickle.com).

Susan Botwick Murphy never planned on designing handbags. In 2001 she was settled in her career as vice president of a marketing at firm in Conshohocken. Then, shortly after 9/11, she was laid off and suddenly in search of a new job. A few years earlier she had taken a trip to SoHo, where an expensive handbag caught her eye. "I'd always been a fan of purses--who isn't?--but $150 seemed like too much. So I drew a picture of it and figured I'd try to make it myself." With no prior sewing experience, save a seventh-grade home-ec class, Murphy set to work duplicating the purse. The first time she carried it, someone offered to buy it from her. Murphy sold the bag for $25, and soon started offering them at local craft fairs. In summer 2002 she opened Viv Pickle--named for Murphy's own nickname--at its current location in Old City. Bags are priced below $100, and more than 150 fabrics, linings and handles are offered. Besides designing and sewing bags and small accessories, Viv Pickle employees--the team now includes 20 workers, many from local art schools--host Pickle parties, where a representative will visit homes with ready-to-buy merchandise, books of fabric samples and order forms. They've been featured in The New York Times Travel section as well as People magazine. For Murphy, being thrifty really paid off. (Erica Palan)

Photo by Inna Spivakova

Nicole Rae Styer

Education: Governor Mifflin High School; University of the Arts, fibers.

Specialty: One-of-a-kind pieces made with vintage fabrics.

Where to find it: Art Star Gallery & Boutique (1030 N. Second St. 215.238.1557. www.artstarphilly.com); Mew Gallery (906 Christian St. 215.625.2424. www.mewgallery.org); Vagabond (37 N. Third St. 215.671.0737. www.vagabondboutique.com); Vix Emporium (5009 Baltimore Ave. 215.471.7700. vixemporium.com).

Nicole Rae Styer always knew she'd do something creative. The daughter of a visual merchandiser and a house painter, Styer grew up working in her grandmother's South Street boutique. "When I was little, I was always creating stuff for myself to wear or just because making it was fun for me," she says. Though she's worked hard to achieve her goals, including having her work shown in Fashion Week last year, success came quickly for Styer. While still studying mixed media at UArts, she was selling her wares at a few local boutiques as well as making the rounds on the craft fair circuit. What sets her work apart from the plethora of other Philly designers is her attention to detail and commitment to the unique. Since she specializes in layering vintage fabrics with hand-beading and custom stitch work, no two Nicole Rae Styer pieces are exactly the same. Though she occasionally employs interns from local art schools, Styer does the majority of work herself. "Once I start going, there's fabric all around. I work kind of fast. The most time I spend is more creating it in my head," the Fishtown resident says. Though she's previously focused only on womenswear, she recently branched out. Her collection now includes children's items and men's dress shirts and ties. (E.P.)