Press Release

PHILADELPHIA-AREA DESIGNERS ARE MORE INDEPENDENT
City’s Independence Shines Through Its Homegrown Design Talent

PHILADELPHIA, September 27, 2007 - Philadelphia’s independence doesn’t stop at its famous cracked bell. Today, the city’s entrepreneurs run boutiques that reflect their personal styles, design clothing and accessories for internationally renowned stores and craft furniture that fills the homes of the region—and the country. Philadelphia boasts tip-top design schools, a burgeoning gallery scene, a booming retail arena and an inherent free spirit that give designers fertile ground to develop, grow and flourish. Recognizing this trend, the cutting-edge Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie and Free People set up their headquarters in South Philly’s Navy Yard. Here is a sampling of the city’s on-the-radar designers:

Conspiracy Showroom

Photo by J. Smith for GPTMC

 

• Mary Clark – The co-owner of Old City’s groundbreaking Vagabond Boutique has fast become one of the country’s foremost knitwear designers. Stellapop, Clark’s line of vintage-inspired, knit-in-Philly sweaters, features boxy cardigans, swingy pullovers, oversized vests and nearly Nordic sweater dresses. Some designs are available nationally through Anthropologie and Barney’s New York, but the coolest samples are found neatly folded among the edgy frocks, handmade cards and cool jeans at Vagabond. 37 N. 3^rd Street, (267) 671-0737, www.vagabondboutique.com
• Nick Newbold – New Hope-born Nick Newbold designs a one-year-young line of ties that are both dapper and irreverent. “I’ve always been obsessed with ties,” he says. “I grew up wearing Hermès and Ferragamo, but listened to punk rock.” For his called Prep & Pauper line, the designer cheekily tweaks traditional motifs, with patterns that offer the downside of ducks, halfway-shorn sheep, inside-out umbrellas and prepster skulls. www.prepandpauper.com; also available at Sugarcube, 124 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 238-0825, www.sugarcube.us
• Abby Kessler and Katie Loftus – Old City’s energetic design duo, Drexel grads and co-owners of one of the neighborhood’s cutest boutiques design an extra-fresh line of women’s wear that’s a little bit Lucille Ball, a little bit Marc Jacobs, a little bit graffiti artist—think Go-Go’s for this millennium. Sailor dresses, heart-adorned T-shirts, swingy denim blazers and good-girl-gone-just-a-little-naughty frocks are among their wardrobe must-haves, sold exclusively in the boudoir-pink Smak Parlour, where their own bright bolts of fabric are on display. 219 Market Street, (215) 625-4551, www.smakparlour.com
• Romy Scheroder-Falzone – In the eco frenzy of the past few years, designer Romy Scheroder-Falzone has been Philadelphia’s go-to woman for all things green and gorgeous. The organizer of earth-friendly fashion shows also designs Satya—Sanskrit for “truth” or “truthfulness”—a collection of wide-neck tunic dresses, mid-rise trousers, high-waist skirts and “renegade” knits, all made of organic cotton, humanely raised alpaca wool and other smartly harvested textiles. www.satyaboutique.com

• Michael Iannone – Inside a studio in unassuming North Philadelphia, furniture maker Michael Iannone has quietly become one of the country’s most sought-after producers of chic, eco-friendly cabinets and custom furnishings. His functional art includes of-the-moment armoires in glossy white laminate flocked with kirei (reclaimed sorghum); mid-century-inspired credenzas made from cork and bamboo; sideboards with an elk across their doors; and a freestanding, light-filled “Glowbox” cabinet. Studio open by appointment. 162 W. Lehigh Avenue, (856) 889-7307, www.iannonedesign.com
• Josh Owen – Alessi, Cappellini, Kikkerland and Casamania are among the clients of ingenious industrial designer Josh Owen. The intrepid and savvy minimalist has dreamt up home projects that include the XOX Coffee Table (for Casamania), an easy-to-assemble three-part piece made of lightweight fibreboard; the similarly minded, flat-packing portable XX coat rack (Casamania); magnetized salt and pepper shakers (Kikkerland); and his iconic Knock Off, a lamp in the shape of a bowling pin that lights up when it falls down (Kikkerland). By appointment only. 700 S. 10^th Street, (215) 923-4856, www.joshowen.com; also available at Foster’s Urban Homeware, 399 Market Street, (267) 671-0588, www.shopfosters.com
• Adam Wallacavage – South Philly-based Adam Wallacavage isn’t just a furniture designer. The edgy artist is also a skateboarding photographer, a wall-wide silkscreener, a self-taught interior designer and a spear-fishing sculptor. Among his coolest crafts are hand-cast ceramic chandeliers with octopus tentacles as arms. www.adamwallacavage.com; also available at Sailor Jerry, 116-118 S. 13^th Street, (215) 531-6308, www.sailorjerry.com
• Lauren Rossi – Less than a year into her residence in Philadelphia, textile designer Lauren Rossi discovered the best display method for her large-scale hand-screen-printed fabrics—upholstery. Using discarded furniture—and the occasional classic piece of vintage Knoll—she set out to create truly edgy but completely functional works of art. Among her favorite pieces is a chaise lounge upholstered in a geometric “Citrus” fabric. Rossi’s work is being snatched up by International Design Concepts and insatiable Philly residents. (805) 705-3975, www.laurenrossidesigns.com

• Maren Reese – Convertible, multi-use scarves—in earthy reds, tweedy herringbones, creamy felts and sophisticated satins—have transformed Letau Designs from a craft-show cottage industry into a force in fashion. Credit for the South Philadelphia-based line’s success is due to artist Maren Reese and her late partner in life and design, Robert Matunda. 621 Reed Street, Suite 2R, (215) 964-9237, www.letaudesigns.com
• Lori Shinal – Exclusive Main Line interior designer Lori Shinal recently repurposed her favorite upholstery fabrics into Taylor, a high-end line of clutches, handbags and satchels, all secured with geometric wooden and bamboo handles. By appointment only. 11 Conshohocken State Road, Gladwyne, (610) 649-4586, www.lorishinalinteriors.com
• Nicole Giordano – Since 2004, energetic textile designer Nicole Giordano has been designing a forward-thinking line of clutches. Giordano weaves and stitches the fabrics for her handheld bags and then adorns each one with a vintage pin. By day, Giordano works in the fabric district in Queen Village. www.nicolegiordano.com; also available at Conspiracy Showroom, 910 N. 2^nd Street, (215) 925-2153, www.conspiracyshowroom.com

• Zivile Pupintye – Lithuanian-born self-taught jewelry designer Zivile Pupintye creates wearable art from lava orbs, coconut hulls, conch shells and crystals in the form of necklaces, bracelets and earrings. Zivile Art offers just the sort of pieces that turn drab outfits into stunning ensembles. Bespoke and ready-to-wear pieces available. www.zivileart.com, (215) 834-8138; also available at Topstitch, 311 Market Street, 2^nd floor, (267) 322-4057
• Jen Roder – Woodworker and carpenter Jen Roder fashions cerebral sterling silver cufflinks from soda cans and handsomely industrial pendants and earrings from bottle caps. The result is Rotorcaps: graphic but not literal pieces that pop, without ever actually exploding. www.jenroder.com; also available at Bambi Project, 1817 Frankford Avenue, (215) 423-2668, www.bambiproject.com
• Barbara Botting and Jenn Cote – Urban Outfitters alums Jenn Cote and Barbara Botting take the charm necklace up several notches with their So & Sew line, one-of-a-kind pieces fashioned from chunky chains and found objects. www.hellosewandso.com; available at Sugarcube, 124 N. 3^rd Street, (215) 238-0825, www.sugarcube.us
• Erin Waxman – Tyler grad and co-owner of Northern Liberties’ innovative Art Star craft gallery, jewelry artist Erin Waxman works with wiry sterling silver that she stretches and shapes into organic modern shapes that are incredibly sophisticated without feeling traditional. Liberties Walk, 1030 N. 2^nd Street, Unit 301, (215) 238-1557, www.artstarphilly.com

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CONTACT:

Caroline Bean, GPTMC
(215) 599-7433, caroline@gptmc.com

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