User:PrudenceandStrickler/sandbox

Prudence & Strickler originals was created by Philadelphia’s Leather Designer duo Prudence and Edward L. Strickler from 1957 to 1981. In 1957 Edward hired Prudence as his right hand designer for his custom leather shop on 52nd and Chestnut Street in Philadelphia, Pennsylvania. Their designs went word of mouth from private clients to well-known musical talents, actors and public figures. They married in 1962 and through the years opened several shops all in the Center City and Society Hill areas of Philadelphia located at 16th and Arch (Vine), 2007 Sansom St., 617 South Street, as well as a solo shop on 45th and Walnut. In 1961 Willie Smith became Prudence’s protégée’ and worked for Prudence and Strickler before she took him personally to Parson’s. While Willie Smith was studying at Parson’s he used Prudence as a reference to work for Arnold Scassi (whom Arnold called Prudence personally to confirm). Later, Willie Smith became a world-known designer. In 1972 the President of Cappizzio’s heard of a young lady making shoes by hand in Philadelphia and didn't believe it to be true. He traveled to Philadelphia to visit the shop to see for himself. After that he invited her to New York, there he gave Prudence a personal tour of the company’s office and showroom. They offered Prudence a contract to open shops across the country and call it “Cappizzio and Things” but Prudence stayed loyal to the Prudence and Strickler name. In 1977 the couple’s four-story home and store front located at 617 South Street caught fire and destroyed every piece of their life’s work, memoirs, and photographs. The devastation of rebuilding what was lost in the fire took its toll and in 1981 the two divorced. Edward Strickler maintained one shop on Walnut St. in Philadelphia until 1992 when he passed away. Prudence moved to Dallas, Texas and sold several of her leather items to Neiman Marcus, Lord & Taylor and Filene’s Basement (to name a few) from her Dallas Apparel Mart Showroom 3G84 called “JustPrudence” until the mid-80”s when she retired.

Their associates and clients included Tommy Veneable, Alvin Bell, Sammy Davis Jr, Sam Cooke, James Earl Jones, Sarah Vaughan, Maureen Gray, Elvis Presley, David Bowie, Dinah Washington, Teddy Pendergrass, Grover Washington Jr., Johnnie Taylor, Conway Twitty (and his little girl/ daughter) and musical groups of Gamble and Huff).

In 1997 the daughter of Edward and Prudence Strickler took range of her parent’s legacy to continue creating leather garments that appeal to specific taste. Today she still operates under the “Prudence & Strickler originals” trademark as a specialty line. Her clothing ignites confidence and style for the cultured “fashionista”, by providing the ultimate shopping experience. She is the creator of the “leather pinstripe” suit and now she introduces a collection of wearable art with her trademark pinstripe design to specialty boutiques which caters to unique taste.