Pop quiz: It’s Independent Retail Week here in Philly, which means…

a) shopping with a cocktail in hand.

b) donating broken umbrellas to be re-imagined into “fashion items” and sold to benefit Haiti relief efforts.

c)  attending a sustainable fashion show in Love Park.

d) all of the above.

If you guessed d, you’re too good. Get outta here. Run by Nolcha, who’s been organizing Independent Retail Weeks all over the country (NYC, Chicago, SF), the celebration strikes a nice (enough) balance between luxury, sustainability and charity. Take for example the all-day event at Kellijane on June 19: Susan Firestone of Siw Thai Silk will host a trunk show and discuss the line’s fair trade, eco-friendly philosophy (the company works with “village artisans in Thailand,” according to its website). You can also sip Don Q Puerto Rican Rum cocktails.

I’ve got high hopes for the SA VA‘s sustainable fashion show in Love Park (fuck Bryant Park…Love Park) on June 19, 6 p.m. – 8 p.m. The last fashion show I attended in Philly set the bar unreasonably low (we also listened to Gaga for a straight two hours, I swear it was just “Bad Romance” on loop), but if the designs featured here are any sign of what’s to come, I don’t think we have to worry. Proceeds benefit Arts & Culture at Fairmount Park.

So go on, pick up your goodie bag (+ shopping guide and city map. Love those.) at any of these stores:

Sioux Zanne Messix, 54 ½ North 3rd Street
Joan Shepp, 1616 Walnut Street
Latitudes Gallery, 4325 Main Street (Manayunk)

Full list of events, sales and dance parties (or dance party, rather) here.

This entry was posted on Monday, June 14th, 2010 at 3:41 pm.