Viv Pickle, Philadelphia

Susan Botwick Murphy, the self-taught crafter behind Viv Pickle, wasn't always in the handbag business. She was once the VP of marketing for a communications firm with a knack for sewing her own accessories. It took a seemingly unfortunate turn of events––a layoff from her corporate job—to transform her into the enterprising purse maven she is today. With her eye for design and her background in business, she's been able to run a successful custom handbag studio that churns out wares for customers across the globe.

She and her seamstresses put together baguettes, buckets, clutches, and totes using a palette of more than 150 fabrics, and a variety of handle and lining materials. A rainbow of patterned prints catches the eye, and waterproof nylons repel leaky lunches and spilled vials of plutonium.