As an editor, I love learning about people who are doing great work in their communities, and as I put together each issue of The Hook, I discover interesting people, businesses, and events in and around Fishtown.
Slay Everyday is Arisabel Vasquez’s fashion brand and the name of her West Kensington-based studio boutique, but it’s also a motto and a way of life. A sign in her shop, just a few blocks from Fishtown, reads, “Wake, pray, slay.” She notes that her brand is focused on a lifestyle of “overcoming all obstacles and always looking good doing it.”
Though she is known for her exquisite bespoke gowns, the brand wasn’t initially built around weddings, proms, or birthdays. “I concentrate heavily on prom and special-occasion eveningwear, and it’s stolen my heart, but resortwear is my first love, design-wise,” Vasquez says, adding that resortwear remains her favorite style to create. “I am half Puerto Rican and half Dominican,” she says. “Island culture is so ingrained in me that building collections around tropical styles really calls to me.”
Resortwear typically means vacationwear, she says, like swimsuits with matching cover-ups, maxi dresses, and her popular two-piece sets with wide palazzo pants. “Most may think that it is solely relaxed and laid-back clothing, but there’s [also] luxe resort [and] special-occasion resortwear that can be even be worn for weddings or galas while on the beach.”
For this issue, she told writer Jennifer Amato about her career trajectory so far and the latest trends — including glitz, glamour, and corsets — that her clients have been embracing recently. And take note: Slay Everyday’s custom gowns have gotten so popular that she is already booking for prom 2027.
I love the idea of a neighborhood hardware store that makes projects therapeutic and fun. Writer Debra Wallace tells us about Benito’s Hardware, where regular clients like John Clark can walk in stressed and leave feeling considerably calmer and more organized. He even calls Benito’s, which had its soft opening late last year, the biggest asset to Fishtown’s community in 30 years.
Also in this issue, you’ll find a feature about a monthlong celebration of Philly’s jazz scene, past and present, and a photo spread of Temple University’s annual Wearable Art Show, which took place in late April. Each year, participants are encouraged to use unusual materials and you don’t have to be a fashion major — or even a designer — to take part.
Enjoy!
