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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
2 comments / new
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Hello World on 20th Street
By Julie Davis
2 comments / new

Racked is no longer publishing. Thank you to everyone who read our work over the years. The archives will remain available here; for new stories, head over to Vox.com, where our staff is covering consumer culture for The Goods by Vox. You can also see what we’re up to by signing up here.

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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Adresse

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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.
45 North 2nd Street, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 985-3161
(215) 985-3161

Aoki Boutique

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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.
115 S 22nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 568-2024
(215) 568-2024

Adorn

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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
(215) 739-2120

Arcadia Boutique

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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.
819 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 667-8099
(215) 667-8099

Art in the Age of Mechanical Reproduction

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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.
116 N 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 922-2600
(215) 922-2600

Art Star

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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.
623 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(215) 238-1557
(215) 238-1557

Boyds

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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.
1818 Chestnut St, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 564-9000
(215) 564-9000

Bus Stop

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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.
727 South 4th Street, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 627-2357
(215) 627-2357

Coco Blu

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

Crash Bang Boom

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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.
528 S 4th St, Philadelphia, PA 19147
(215) 928-1123
(215) 928-1123

Duke & Winston Showroom

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

EAVES

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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.
105 North Aberdeen, Wayne, PA 19085
(610) 688-4466
(610) 688-4466

Eyes Gallery

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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.
402 South Street, Philadelphia, PA
(215) 925-0193
(215) 925-0193

Hello World

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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.
257 S 20th St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 545-5207
(215) 545-5207

Joan Shepp

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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.
1625 Chestnut Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 735-2666
(215) 735-2666

Knit Wit

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

The Little Apple

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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.
4353 Main St, Philadelphia, PA 19127
(267) 335-4968
(267) 335-4968

Lost + Found

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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.
133 3rd St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 928-1311
(215) 928-1311

Mango

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

Menagerie

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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.
503 West Lancaster, Wayne, PA 19087
(610) 971-1769
(610) 971-1769

Metro Men's Clothing

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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.
1600 East Passyunk Avenue, Philadelphia, PA 19148
(267) 324-5172
(267) 324-5172

Mushmina

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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.
1540 South St, Philadelphia, PA 19146
(215) 732-5500
(215) 732-5500

Omoi Zakka Shop

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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.
1608 Pine St., Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 545-0963
(215) 545-0963

Open House

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

Per Lei Boutique

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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.
2 E State St, Media, PA 19063
(610) 566-1254
(610) 566-1254

Ps & Qs

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

SA VA

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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)
1700 Sansom Street, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 587-0004
(215) 587-0004

Scarlett Alley

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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.
241 Race St., Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 592-7898
(215) 592-7898

Skirt

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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.
933 W Lancaster Ave, Bryn Mawr, PA 19010
(610) 520-0222
(610) 520-0222

Smak Parlour

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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)
219 Market St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 625-4551
(215) 625-4551

Sugarcube®

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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.
124 N 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 238-0825
(215) 238-0825

Swag

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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.
923 N 2nd St, Philadelphia, PA 19123
(267) 888-7246
(267) 888-7246

Third Street Habit

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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.
153 N. 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(215) 925-5455
(215) 925-5455

TownHome

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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.
1616 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19103
(215) 972-5100
(215) 972-5100

Trove General Store

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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.
19 Paoli Shopping Center, Paoli, PA 19301
(484) 320-8626
(484) 320-8626

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UBIQ Walnut Street

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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.
1509 Walnut St, Philadelphia, PA 19102
(215) 988-0194
(215) 988-0194

Vagabond

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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.
37 N 3rd St, Philadelphia, PA 19106
(267) 671-0737
(267) 671-0737

VIX Emporium

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

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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
(215) 985-3161

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
(215) 568-2024

Adorn

1314 Frankford Ave, Philadelphia, PA 19125