What To Do This Weekend
In honor of Earth Day, Arcadia Boutique is offering 15 percent off all their sustainable clothes and shoes. The sale only lasts today both in stores and online (code: EARTH DAY). It just so happens that they’re also carrying spring fashions from several new designers including, Collina Strada, Oliveve, Jane Oh and Margarita Saplala. I should note that, even at 15 percent off, most of their dresses are still quite pricey. But you might feel a little better about spending half your week’s income knowing that the boutique is donating 5 percent of their sales from today towards the planting of a new tree in Fairmount Park.
Get one of the first wiffs of Philadelphia Potion Perfume tonight when it officially launches with a party at Franklin Square Boutique in Old City. Local designer and photographer, Rene Micheli is the brains behind the new fragrance line which will include bath products and custom, personalized perfumes. There aren’t many details about what sort of scents you can expect, but I can tell you they are beautifully packaged. Perhaps you’ll find a perfect mother’s day gift. The party goes from 6-9 p.m and will include a live performance by Woodsman and Tjutjuna.
Tomorrow you won’t want to miss the Third Annual Fishtown Shad Fest going down at Penn Treaty Park. In addition to live music from the West Philadelphia Orchestra, Girls Rock Philly and three other acts, there will be a slew of great food vendors including, Johnny Brenda’s, D’Ascenzo Gelato and Philadelphia Brewing Co. Topping it all off, over 50 arts and crafts vendors will be there selling a whole lotta awesome, one-of-a-kind items. There’s so many in fact, I can only highlight a few:
Night Owl Designs: My favorite vendor at the last Punk Rock Flea Market! I continue to adore the awesome Golden Girls earrings I got from from them. Their pop-culture inspired pieces are a must see.
Homemade Pop: original illustrations and prints of nostalgic/everyday products. Their drawings are all really cute and colorful.
Real Fruit Jewelry: If their name didn’t give it away, they make jewelry out of real slices of fruit (covered in hard, waterproof coating). This may sound tacky, but I think they’re pretty fun.
Nommaddicts: A line of apparel and accessories incorporating the different styles and cultures that designer Victoria Chan has observed traveling around the world. Her utility belts and gauntlets are particularly badass.
Fox Glove Factory: handmade, vintage accessories by local designer Julie Mullin Raboczi. Her collection of adorable button earrings also won my attention at the Punk Rock Flea Market.
Sustainable Fashion
Like Erica said, Design Philadelphia is rocking and rolling starting today and they’ve got some rad events lined up all over the city. I wanted to bring your style-savvy attention to one event in particular, Fashion Forward.
Fashion Forward is a two part series comprised of locals in the textile and fashion industry talking about sustainability in the business of style and clothing. You’ll learn about the challenges of using organic and fair trade items as well as hearing about the satisfaction and pay off from the choices these professionals have experienced by participating in this specific thread of the fashion world.
The first panel, Sustainable Textile Design and Manufactuing in Philadelphia is tonight at 6 p.m. in the CBS Auditorium of Hamilton Auditorium (corner of Broad and Pine Sts.) The second panel, Design in Action, will take place on October 14 and will focus on the personal stories of various local designers and the role sustainibility has played in their careers. Tickets range from $20-$25 for each panel and include admission to the Industry Social Reception on October 14 immediately following the second panel.
To register for Panel One CLICK HERE and for Panel Two CLICK HERE.