By Maria Cook
Purse Strings is a Carmel shop with a unique story. Located in Clay Terrace, Purse Strings offers a variety of fashion accessories and other items for women and men, but it launched as the first Vera Bradley store.
“Around 2008, when Vera Bradley went public, they decided to open their own company store, and this store became Purse Strings. After a few years, the previous owners retired and I re-opened it in September (2018),” said Paul Braun, who owns Purse Strings with his wife, Heather.
As the name implies, Purse Strings carries women’s fashion accessories, such as purses and jewelry, although it also offers a variety of other items, from packaged chocolates to home décor. Braun said Purse Strings also is a great place for men to shop.
“We carry men’s leather accessories, including backpacks. We have a great men’s line called Duke Cannon Supply Company, which is a men’s grooming line,” said Braun, a Fishers resident. “We have everything from shaving creams to hair gels. We also have unique sports wallets made out of authentic football and baseball leather.”
Six Indiana-based brands are represented at Purse Strings, in addition to Vera Bradley, which originated in Fort Wayne. Other local companies are Baekgaard, Ambre Blends Fragrances, DeBrand Fine Chocolates, Peepers, Re-Issued Books and July Twenty Two.
“I think we have a great assortment of personal items and gifts, and there is a wide price range, everything from $10 pieces of jewelry up to $400 handbags,” Braun said.
