Photo by Ross Erickson Secret Sweatshirts interview by Emily Kovach What’s your overall design style? NH: I like to work with stretchy fabrics because it fits a lot of bodies. Our last collection was about torn paper and collage: We’re always taking things to a more artistic and less predictable place. My customer base is
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Photo by Anthony Nocella Matched Set by Emily Kovach When Melissa Choi and Pia Panaligan met in a fashion illustration class in 2004 at Philadelphia University, their creative chemistry was immediate. They spent hours in the studio sewing side by side, sharing what inspired them. “I always wanted to find someone to design with,” Choi
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photo by Amanda Roberts Becoming interview by Emily Kovach When did you first become interested in clothing, fashion and design? TD: My mother is quite the fashionista. She was keen on outfitting my sister and me with new fashions each school season. She taught us a lot about style and finish… I look back now
MoreVintage Shops As cooler weather approaches and you’re ready to switch over your wardrobe, you can find everything you need at Philadelphia’s growing cadre of vintage shops. A more sustainable choice than a run for cheap goods at a national chain, you’ll find handmade sweaters, fall boots, fancy holiday dresses and all the flair you
MoreGrid's Vintage Clothing Round-up profiles Briar Vintage, Mesh Vintage, Wilbur and Two Percent to Glory.
MoreFan Dancers dress with print by street artist Joe Boruchow
by Claire Margheim
Abby Kessler and Katie Lubieski of Smak Parlour debuted their street art-inspired The Cut & Sew Collection on March 20 at their Old City storefront. It’s their first collection of originals since 2010, but that isn’t because they’ve been slacking off.
In addition to keeping
"People think that if you buy secondhand clothes, you have to look shabby,” says Priyanka Lahiri, a Temple film student and employee of Chestnut Street consignment boutique Second Time Around. “It’s just not true—you can make outfits that look expensive based on how you put things together.”
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"Everybody eats!” is a rallying cry of food and environmental activists eager to grow a broad-based movement. With the exception of the Philly Naked Bike Ride, everybody wears clothes, too. Can our daily routine of tucking in and buttoning up lead us to a sustainable future?
Umbrellas—designed as a convenient solution to getting caught in the rain—can be surprisingly unwieldy. On a stormy day, Philly sidewalks are filled with all shapes, sizes and varieties. But, when the wind is strong, the flimsy shields often can’t withstand the pressure, acquiring that all-too-familiar inside-out look. At that point, the city becomes an umbrella
MoreSa Va Fashion Brings buying local to a new levelby Lee Stabert
Upstairs from a posh center city boutique is a small garment factory. There is a hefty metal cutting table along the right wall and a couple rows of sewing machines. There is a machine that folds collars, and one that attaches clasps to pants.