Students who want unique, trendy back-to-school items can find an array of diverse and functional apparel at Fishtown’s thrift and vintage shops.
Among them is Urban Exchange Project, a clothing store that’s been a mainstay in the neighborhood since 2016. The family-owned and operated retailer offers a large selection of upcycled, sustainable fashions, vintage pieces and second-hand clothing at affordable prices.
Jenna Gorman, a co-owner of the store she runs with her father and a cousin, has always been interested in upcycled fashion – garments made from old or discarded items – and she was thrilled at the chance to bring her passion for finding one-of-a-kind vintage clothing and curating unique, hand-made items to the family business.
“Many of the people in my family are artists, including my dad, who also owned a vintage store when I was younger,” Gorman recalled. “I also worked in a buy-sell-trade store when I was in high school, and that’s where my interest in fashion started.”
Second-hand clothing was all Gorman could afford growing up, but she soon came to enjoy finding unique items that helped her stand out.
“I liked finding different pieces that made me look good and allowed me to express myself,” she noted. “It was fun to find things that nobody else was wearing, and I eventually went on to create my own designs.”
Gorman majored in fashion at Florida State University, where she continued pursuing her passion for upcycled apparel. Once her family opened Urban Exchange Project, she began curating pieces for a line of hand-made, bleached items she creates herself and a selection of painted items created by her brother.
The store is divided into two levels: The main floor showcases curated vintage finds and hand-made pieces and the basement is full of name-brand as well as second-hand items.
Urban Exchange Project hosts monthly, fill-a-bag sale days where customers can stuff a 16-by-16-inch bag with $30 items from the lower level; it also offers a large selection of $5 items every day. Students with a school ID get an extra 20% off on Wednesdays.
“Our selection is constantly changing, and we’re putting out new stuff daily,” Gorman pointed out. “We work with a number of wholesalers, and we go out and individually hand pick all of the pieces that we bring in. Our customers love the nostalgia of the store and the opportunity to find something new and different.
“There are always unique, funky pieces to be found.”
When it comes to back-to-school apparel, the trends are leaning toward baggier pants, crop tops, flannels and light jackets, with denim jackets an item always in demand, according to Gorman.
“We love being able to offer unique items at an affordable price, as well as making our store approachable and accessible for everyone,” she explained. “A lot of times people are intimidated by vintage or thrift stores because there’s so much to look through.
“We offer a variety of items for every type of person and make it our mission that anybody can walk into the store and find something they like.”
Gorman also loves Fishtown’s family friendly vibe.
“The neighborhood has definitely changed in the nine years that we’ve been here,” she observed. “The growing number of restaurants, coffee shops and retail stores has created a lot more foot traffic in the area, along with the overall cool, artsy vibe.
“We always saw the potential to grow with the neighborhood, and we’re happy to continue serving the community with our sustainable fashions.”
Urban Exchange Project is located at 1868 Frankford Ave. in Philadelphia. Visit www.urbanexchangeproject.com or www.instagram.com/urbanexchangeproject for more information.
Second-hand and upcycled items can also be had at Trashed Vintage, 262 E. Girard Ave., and Circle Thrift, 2233 Frankford Ave.
