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Hello World on 20th Street
Hello World on 20th Street

Philly's 38 Best Independent Boutiques, Fall 2013

By Julie Davis
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Hello World on 20th Street
By Julie Davis

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It's now time to update the Indie 38, our annual list of the 38 best independent boutiques around the city. Like last time, to make number more manageable, we've excluded consignment and vintage shops and stores younger than six months old.

For today's list, we cleared Concrete Polish (reborn as Ritual Ritual), Franklin Square (closed), and Nice Things Handmade to make room for Mushmina, Art Star, and Hello World. Got an addition to the list—or a subtraction, for that matter? We'll be updating the map periodically, so let us know your thoughts in the comments section. You can also email us at philly@racked.com.


10/29/13: Removed Franklin Square, Nice Things Handmade, Concrete Polish; Added Art Star, Hello World, Mushmina
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1. Adresse

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45 North 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 985-3161
(215) 985-3161
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Newly relocated to Old City, this swanky boutique stock the latest looks from designers like Stella McCartney, Lela Rose, and Peter Som, and it’s the only shop in the Philadelphia area to house apparel by The Row.

2. Aoki Boutique

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115 S 22nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 568-2024
(215) 568-2024
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At this Rittenhouse Square shop, turquoise blue walls envelope women's apparel, accessories, and jewelry from a range of emerging, under-the-radar designers.

3. Adorn

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1314 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19125
(215) 739-2120
(215) 739-2120
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Every piece of boho-chic, gemstone-laden jewelry in this Frankford Avenue boutique is handmade by store owner Sarah Lewis.

4. Arcadia Boutique

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819 N 2nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 667-8099
(215) 667-8099
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Arcadia takes the reins as one of the city’s best places to shop under-the-radar designers and eco-friendly fashions for men and women.

5. Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

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116 N 3rd St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 922-2600
(215) 922-2600
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The only store in Philly with its own in-house line of liqueurs, woodsy-vibed Art in the Age supplies both genders with clothing and accessories from a mix of indie and American labels like Penfield, Steven Alan, and Woolrich.

6. Art Star

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623 N 2nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 238-1557
(215) 238-1557
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Apparel, accessories, art, home decor, and more—all from indie artists and crafters—have a home at this NoLibs boutique/gallery. What's more, Art Star is the boutique behind the wildly popular Art Star Craft Bazaar and the new Holiday Market at WinterFest.

7. Boyds

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1818 Chestnut St
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 564-9000
(215) 564-9000
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An old-school department store in an era where there aren't many of those left, Boyd's carries the highest of the high-end. It's not cheap, but the atmosphere makes it worth a visit even if you're not going to walk out with a brand-new pair of Manolo slingbacks.

8. Bus Stop

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727 South 4th Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 627-2357
(215) 627-2357
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Store owner Elena Brennan fills her under-the-radar footwear boutique with funky men’s and women’s shoes from designer names like Irregular Choice, United Nude, and Jeffrey Campbell.

9. Coco Blu

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116 East Lancaster Avenue
Wayne, PA 19087
(610) 293-2626
(610) 293-2626
Located in the heart of Wayne, Coco Blu attracts women with a vast selection of brightly-colored, affordable jewelry and accessories.

10. Crash Bang Boom

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528 S 4th St
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 928-1123
(215) 928-1123
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Crash Bang Boom is South Street's resource for dog collars and Manic Panic. Born out of iconic punk shop Zipperhead, the store has been keeping Philadelphians in leather and studs in one form or another since 1980.

11. Duke & Winston Showroom

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633 N. 2nd Street.
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(267) 639-5594
(267) 639-5594
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Seun Olubodun's line of men's casual tees and hoodies is inspired by his beloved English bulldog, Duke.

12. EAVES

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105 North Aberdeen
Wayne, PA 19085
(610) 688-4466
(610) 688-4466
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On the menu at this Main Line boutique: women's apparel from Steven Alan, LemLem, A.L.C., and Rag & Bone.

13. Eyes Gallery

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402 South Street
Philadelphia, PA
(215) 925-0193
(215) 925-0193
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Owners Julie and Isaiah Zagar opened this gallery in 1968 after three years in the Peace Corps in Peru, and ever since, they've been selling Latin American crafts and jewelry. Even if you don't know Isaiah Zagar's name, you'll recognize his work instantly; he's the man responsible for South Street's mosaics, as well as the tilework that covers the interior of the store.

14. Hello World

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257 S 20th St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 545-5207
(215) 545-5207
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Shop Hello World for gifts and personal accessories, then head to its sister stores Industry and Hello Home for retro furniture, housewares, and more.

15. Joan Shepp

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1625 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 735-2666
(215) 735-2666
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Joan Shepp is a Rittenhouse Row staple, a must-see shop for designer labels like Marni, Givenchy, Opening Ceremony, and Comme des Garcons.

16. Knit Wit

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1729 Chestnut Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 564-4760
(215) 564-4760
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Knit Wit's new Chestnut Street digs house designer buys from labels like Paul Smith, Helmut Lang, and J Brand.

17. The Little Apple

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4353 Main St
Philadelphia, PA 19127
(267) 335-4968
(267) 335-4968
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The cute-as-a-button Manayunk gift shop is a must for trendy housewares with a vintage edge, and it also stocks jewelry from local and national designers.

18. Lost + Found

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133 3rd St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 928-1311
(215) 928-1311
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We love Lost + Found for its wallet-friendly finds. Its racks are packed with affordably-priced sundresses in the summer, and discounts are deepened with regular sales.

19. Mango

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8442 Germantown Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19118
(215) 248-9299
(215) 248-9299
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A Chestnut HIll staple, Mango houses fair-trade women's apparel, accessories, housewares, and jewelry from South and Central America.

20. Menagerie

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503 West Lancaster
Wayne, PA 19087
(610) 971-1769
(610) 971-1769
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Menagerie provides the Main Line with upscale fashion jewelry and women's apparel and shoes from the likes of Calypso St. Barth and Yosi Samra.

21. Metro Men's Clothing

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1600 East Passyunk Avenue
Philadelphia, PA 19148
(267) 324-5172
(267) 324-5172
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Philadelphia is not exactly swarming with menswear options for more dapper gentleman, but Metro Men's Clothing keeps its customers looking natty with selections from Fred Perry, Ben Sherman, and Penguin.

22. Mushmina

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1540 South St
Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 732-5500
(215) 732-5500
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Founded by sisters Katie and Heather O'Neill, Mushmina contracts artisans in Africa to create handcrafted, fair-trade apparel, jewelry, and home decor.

23. Omoi Zakka Shop

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1608 Pine St.
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 545-0963
(215) 545-0963
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Japanese pop culture is front-and-center at this Pine Street shop, where you can find everything from bento boxes and stationery to jewelry and toys.

24. Open House

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107 N 13th St
Philadelphia, PA 19107
(215) 922-1415
(215) 922-1415
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Located in Midtown Village, Open House stocks everything from housewares and kitchen items to candles and personal accessories.

25. Per Lei Boutique

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2 E State St
Media, PA 19063
(610) 566-1254
(610) 566-1254
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With two additional locations "down the shore," Per Lei attracts professional women with a mix of designers labels like Tibi, DVF, Trina Turk, and Rebecca Taylor.

26. Ps & Qs

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820 South Street
Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 592-0888
(215) 592-0888
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At this South Street shop, guys can find the latest collections from Warriors of Radness, New Balance, Pendleton, and Penfield.

27. SA VA

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1700 Sansom Street
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 587-0004
(215) 587-0004
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Style and sustainability go hand in hand at SA VA as the eco-conscious boutique uses fair-trade, eco-friendly materials to create its eponymous line of women’s apparel. garments sold at SA VA are made in the boutique's adjacent garment center. (Image credit: R Kennedy for GPTMC)

28. Scarlett Alley

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241 Race St.
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 592-7898
(215) 592-7898
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In need of a wedding gift or a housewarming present? This longstanding boutique is a go-to for tasteful housewares plus jewelry and accessories from local and global labels.

29. Skirt

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933 W Lancaster Ave
Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 520-0222
(610) 520-0222
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This Bryn Mawr boutique outfits Main Line ladies in the lastest fashions from Milly, Tibi, DVF, Theory, and Alice and Olivia. The store has a twin location in Stone Harbor, New Jersey.

30. Smak Parlour

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219 Market St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-4551
(215) 625-4551
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With a bubblegum pink exterior fit for a modern day Barbie, Smak Parlour satiates the shopping itch with frilly frocks, embellished cardigans, and more from lesser-known names like Many Belles Down and Ark & Co. The boutique also attracts attention for its house-label, rockabilly-meets-pin-up style clothing line. (Image credit: B. Krist for GPTMC)

31. Sugarcube®

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124 N 3rd St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 238-0825
(215) 238-0825
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With apparel and accessories for both men and women, Sugarcube keeps shoppers up-to-date about the latest must-have labels.

32. Swag

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923 N 2nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(267) 888-7246
(267) 888-7246
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This NoLibs gift shop has something for everyone, whether it be a onesie for Baby or a funky tea infuser for Mom.

33. Third Street Habit

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153 N. 3rd St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-5455
(215) 925-5455
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The most sought-after trends and designers are represented at this trendy Old City boutique. Shoppers can count on Third Street Habit to carry contemporary ready-to-wear from labels like Rag & Bone and Rodebjer, but it’s the boutique’s exclusive selection of apparel from Isabel Marant’s Etoile line that really puts this shop on the map.

34. TownHome

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1616 Walnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 972-5100
(215) 972-5100
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In business over a decade, this Walnut Street jewelry boutique keeps customers coming back with a unique selection of fine jewelry.

35. Trove General Store

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19 Paoli Shopping Center
Paoli, PA 19301
(484) 320-8626
(484) 320-8626
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Whether you're a true outdoorsman or just want to look like one, Trove General is a one-stop-shop for labels like Pendleton, Filson, Woolrich, Levis, and Blundstone. The Main Line store also carries housewares and apothecary.

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36. UBIQ Walnut Street

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1509 Walnut St
Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 988-0194
(215) 988-0194
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Ubiq has been selling streetwear for over a decade now, so it's safe to assume they know their stuff. Go for brands like Adidas, Stussy, and Vans, all of whom have collaborated with the store on special projects.

37. Vagabond

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37 N 3rd St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(267) 671-0737
(267) 671-0737
Visit Website
This Old City boutique displays a well-edited selection of vintage alongside women’s duds from the coolest emerging designers. Think shoes from Rachel Comey and Swedish Hasbeens, jewelry from Philly’s own Bario Neal, plus apparel from a mix of local and national labels.

38. VIX Emporium

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5009 Baltimore Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19143
(215) 471-7700
(215) 471-7700
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Handmade, locally-sourced home goods, apparel, and jewelry are the draw at this West Philly shop.

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1. Adresse

45 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
Newly relocated to Old City, this swanky boutique stock the latest looks from designers like Stella McCartney, Lela Rose, and Peter Som, and it’s the only shop in the Philadelphia area to house apparel by The Row.
45 North 2nd Street
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 985-3161
Visit Website

2. Aoki Boutique

115 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
At this Rittenhouse Square shop, turquoise blue walls envelope women's apparel, accessories, and jewelry from a range of emerging, under-the-radar designers.
115 S 22nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 568-2024
Visit Website

3. Adorn

1314 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125
Every piece of boho-chic, gemstone-laden jewelry in this Frankford Avenue boutique is handmade by store owner Sarah Lewis.
1314 Frankford Ave
Philadelphia, PA 19125
(215) 739-2120
Visit Website

4. Arcadia Boutique

819 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Arcadia takes the reins as one of the city’s best places to shop under-the-radar designers and eco-friendly fashions for men and women.
819 N 2nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 667-8099
Visit Website

5. Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

116 N 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
The only store in Philly with its own in-house line of liqueurs, woodsy-vibed Art in the Age supplies both genders with clothing and accessories from a mix of indie and American labels like Penfield, Steven Alan, and Woolrich.
116 N 3rd St
Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 922-2600
Visit Website

6. Art Star

623 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
Apparel, accessories, art, home decor, and more—all from indie artists and crafters—have a home at this NoLibs boutique/gallery. What's more, Art Star is the boutique behind the wildly popular Art Star Craft Bazaar and the new Holiday Market at WinterFest.
623 N 2nd St
Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 238-1557
Visit Website

7. Boyds

1818 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA