Armario: Artistry that Inspires the Soul

Teachers, community supporters, artists and philanthropists, these are just a few of the amazing qualities found in the owners of Skippack’s most purposeful shop, Armario. Theresa and Vanessa are long time friends and residents of Montgomery County. They started working together 15 years ago at the same company and eventually found themselves working less than fulfilling jobs in the mundane world of “Corporate America”. After what seemed like an eternity, the two friends finally decided to break free and find their own vision, resulting in the creation of Armario. First opened in 2009 as an online store doing trunk shows locally, it didn’t take long for Armario to move to their first physical location, Ambler, in 2011. Here, owners Theresa and Vanessa were able to create a space where every local artist could have the opportunity to discover their own personal visions, and then put them on display for our community to see. Four years later, the duo have brought their enormous fan base and reputation to Montco’s most artistic small town. From here, the two plan to reach more local artists, provide increasing community support, and continue to further help our residents embrace the artistic force that drives them.

The first thing that will strike you when walking into Armario is the owners themselves. Theresa and Vanessa exude energy, positivity, enthusiasm and a sincere love for our community. This passion clearly shines through in the very products that fill their store. All the items you will see when shopping at Armario are hand picked, meaningful pieces created by local artisans as well as with Artisans from all over. Most are in the United States but if they are not, they work with many Fair Trade artisans. They started working with local artisans in our consulting business to help them find their voice, develop their vision and bring it to life with that specific purpose in mind. Pieces that are a reflection of the artists themselves. In addition to featuring custom made jewelry, hand bags, accessories and more, the long time friends have also incorporated purpose based easy to wear clothing and local food items, from fellow artisan and friend Rachel, as well as handcrafted and repurposed Home décor and furniture that has purpose from Catherine, long time business owner, friend and supporter of everything Skippack. Both Rachel and Catherine have proved to be perfect additions to the already talented and thoughtful shop.

This small business boutique specializes in unique, eco-friendly, socially conscious artisan accessories. They provide an enjoyable, relaxed shopping experience for all of their visitors, no matter what their taste or style. When it comes to choosing the selection of items sold in the store, owners Vanessa and Theresa make purpose the main requirement. Naturally, the products they choose to carry must look and feel great, but they also must have a story behind them. As a result of this requirement, customers here can literally pick out any piece on display and both owners will know exactly who made it and why! Due to the amount of local artisans they choose to feature and support, there are a lot of stories within the walls of this Skippack store front, and the women of Armario are more than proud to tell them. Their inspiration for starting this store was drawn from their own experiences as working women and friends who dared to venture out and follow their passion. Thanks to their successful leap of faith, the four women of Armario are now helping our own residents turn their own passions into a reality.

The cornerstone of Armario is their philosophy on finding unique, inspiring accessories that make a statement and bring out the “creative” side of all our residents. They draw this inspiration from their own styles as well as from the needs and wants of their customers. What was only once a dream, this small business has become a valuable resource to our local artists and community. The women here truly love being able to help pay it forward each day when they come to work. The next time you’re in town swing by to find your own inspiration, and feel free to bring your dog in as well! The pet friendly, one of a kind boutique is looking forward to inspiring your soul and spirit through their custom made artisan pieces.