The holiday gift-giving season is upon us- make a star of your local makers It’s become something of a sport to call out how much earlier each year stores begin to put up tinsel and displays announcing the holiday gift-buying season. I started seeing Facebook posts as early as mid-October from unsettled friends who went
MorePhoto by Jillian Guyette Spears Over Chips by Emily Kovach Big decisions are part of launching anycompany. When Brine Street Picklery was forming, its five co-founders had a particularly pressing dilemma on hand: spear or chip? “It’s the age-old pickle question,” founder PJ Hopkins laughs. “I was outvoted for spears four to one.” The seeds
MorePhoto by Margo Reed Lady and Mr. Marmalade by Emily Kovach Every two or three weeks, Jennifer and Steve Horton play hooky from their 9-to-5 jobs in marketing and economic development, respectively, and spend the whole day transforming local produce and sugar into hundreds of jars of jam and preserves in the Greensgrow Community Kitchen.
MoreFrom Russia, With Love by Emily Kovach For a kid growing up in Soviet Russia in the 1980s, treats were nearly impossible to come by. “We didn’t have soda or desserts,” says Olga Sorzano, owner of Baba’s Brew. “But my great-grandmother brewed kombucha and always had it in the house. This was really fun for
MoreBeyond the Brown Box by Emily Kovach If you’re a seasoned CSA buyer, you probably already have a favorite farm that does heirloom tomatoes just right, or you know a farmer who will surprise you with a crazy new item you’ve never seen. This season, try a new kind of CSA. Here are some options
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Photo by Sophie Secile Xu A glimpse into the creative process of four eclectic studios by Emily Kovach Our burgeoning fashion scene bears all the hallmarks of the Philadelphia spirit: authenticity, cooperation, grit and ingenuity. Pia Panaligan, a co-owner of the local line Senpai + Kohai, gets to the heart of it: “Philly isn’t thought
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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
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