First Friday Fashion Fair

Fashion > Forward

by Felicia D'Ambrosio

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Hovering over the edge of Chinatown, Bob Weinstein's towering brick structure at 11th and Wood streets has transformed over the past seven years from a true factory to a resource for artists and a lightning rod for raw talent. Black Floor Gallery (now dissolved) was the first space in the building to show the work of artists both local and national, like Shepard Fairey's "Manufacturing Dissent" show in 2005. Now three galleries — Copy, Vox Populi and Khmer — and Stockbridge Fine Art Print, a digital photo printing studio, are stacked over and under a woodworking shop and many artists' workspaces.

In a nod to the building's original occupants — clothing manufacturers — Carrie Collins of Fabric Horse made her first superhero utility belt here, and she still does. Local designers and vintage collectors will further honor the building's legacy at the First Friday Fashion Fair, where they'll set up temporary shop to sell apparel, jewelry and housewares. See below for our favorite vendors.

Lollycrisp Vintage focuses on unique prints and good fabrics from the past, often refashioned by owner Ada Egloff into modern shapes. Goldmine is collected by Rachel Gold, who splits her time between living in Philadelphia and working Los Angeles' legendary fleas. Scoop up her super-retro '40s-to-'80s housewares and apparel. Visit lollycrispvintage.etsy.com and shopgoldmine.etsy.com to see their ever-changing inventories.

Meet Elsa Shadley and her Warsaw line of distressed-but-rugged satchels and languid T-shirt dresses. Though practical and made to last, the canvas bags evoke the days of ragged-edge petticoats and the pioneer spirit, and are as useful astride a bike as they are pretty. See the line at warsawmade.com.

Konane is the work of Callie Rickards, who rockets her handcrafted crochet and knit pieces to another world with neon hues and daring shapes. Accompanying the original women's wear will be vintage clothing and Rickards' own posters. Visit her shop at konane.etsy.com.

Black Spot Books are diminutive book pendants crafted from the leather covers of actual antique books by Margaux Kent. Bound archival pages lend weight and a place to scratch down miniature musings. In addition to this novel jewelry, Kent also uses the tiny pelvic bones of minks to create casts, which she then fills with silver or gold to produce sparkling anatomical necklaces. See the jewelry, as well as Kent's full-size bound journals, at theblackspotbooks.com.

Have an upcoming shopping event? Give it here. E-mail felicia.dambrosio@citypaper.net.