If you’re a fan of the Feminist Flea Market & Craft Fair, you no longer have to wait for the few times a year when the flea happens. Starting September 9th, you can go to Baby Tooth at the BOK Building in South Philly six days a week to find the same collection of jewelry, clothing, ceramics, records, and more from Philly artists and makers.
After starting the Feminist Flea Market & Craft Fair in 2018 and hosting 500 plus vendors and giving over $60,000 to local organizations, organizer and curator House Cat (Zissel Aronow) created this space that is part retail, part community space.
“There’s something special about being able to curate a space and share it,” says Aronow.
Among the 25 initial Baby Tooth vendors are illustrators, herbalists, zine creators, and fashion designers. Most of them have previously vended at Feminist Flea, a market by and for makers marginalized for their gender. Holly Jean Studios are creating one of a kind hardwood shelves exclusively designed for the shop. Baby Tooth will also carry works from vendors who haven’t been at Feminist Flea such as Kenni Field, a Black nonbinary artist selling items including ash trays, pipes, and incense holders.
Extending Feminist Flea’s mission to redistribute funds and support community organizing efforts, Baby Tooth will collaborate with Homies Helping Homies, a mutual aid initiative focusing on food and household item distribution in Point Breeze.
In addition to hosting drop-off days and skill shares, 5% of all Baby Tooth sales will go to support Homies’ bi-weekly distribution efforts. Aronow and Homies co-founders Kevin Bass and Ant Adams are producing limited edition merch marking the collaboration, proceeds of which will also go to Homies.
“We hope to utilize Baby Tooth to do more community events, lead workshops to share skills, have a space to organize, and sell merchandise to maintain our redistribution efforts,” said Bass. “I’m excited to extend our connection and offer opportunities to community members that aren’t primarily centered in food outreach, and to have some sustainable income for the next six months.”
The space in the BOK building where Baby Tooth will call home also doubles as the studio of Corinne Dodenhoff Creative, a Philly-based graphic designer, illustrator, and educator whose values of equity, accessibility, and aesthetics align perfectly with Baby Tooth. Dodenhoff, one of the most watched hosts on the educational web platform Daisie and former educator at the Moore College of Art, will use being at Baby Tooth to expand into more in-person teaching and gathering.
“Homies, Corinne, and others can use the shop for workshops and events, vendors can try out new work they’ve been experimenting with,” says Aronow. “It’s a space that’s supporting people’s passions across disciplines. When people have room to do something they love, that fulfills them, and that supports them financially, it bolsters the community they are a part of.”
Baby Tooth’s Grand Opening is Friday, September 9 from 5-9pm at 821 Dudley Street, Space 1N. The first 50 to show up will have their pick of a mini cake by Shannon (@sundaysours). The opening party will feature tarot readings by Keiko (of MUMBO STUDIOS, whose next Gumbo Pot Market supporting Black businesses will be October 29), and photography by Rhiannon (@rhivnnun). Masks are required at the opening and in the shop to prioritize community safety, especially the safety of our immunocompromised, disabled, and elderly neighbors.
For shop artists and hours, visit: www.babytooth.xyz and follow them on Instagram @babytooth.xyz.
