Top style and ideas for fledgling clothing brand
Philadelphia Printworks come from the lovely and talented minds of April Pugh and Ruth Paloma Rivera-Perez. Headquartered at North Philly's Emerald Arts Studios at 9th and Dauphin, Pugh and Rivera-Perez are using T-shirt fronts to spread the word about issues and people they care about. "If people don't listen to NPR, or do their own research, there's a void, and that's what we're trying to fill," says Rivera-Perez, who cites a design based on concerns over fracking for Marcellus Shale natural gas.
And the message is more than just political. Some of the designs celebrate the contributions of lesser known cultural figures, like Nina Simone and Jean-Michel Basquiat. On top of the duo's designs, says April, PPW will take custom orders.
Rivera-Perez, who grew up in Cherry Hill, N.J., is also Political Science/Urban Studies student at Rutgers-Camden, graduating in the spring. Pugh also writes the April's Flowers
tumblr. Both have been working about 36 hours a week at PPW as well, and report that starting up the new business feels like a full time job. On a recent Saturday night, the ladies were up past midnight building inventory.
When asked about sales targets for the coming year, Pugh and Rivera-Perez respond that it's less about sales and more about accomplishing the mission of providing a place for the community to speak through wearable art. PPW plans on opening up the studio for community workshops, where people can come print their own designs. They're also planning an artist residency program, with a resulting collection that will be on sale this summer.
Check the PPW blog and
Facebook page for updates, or look for Pugh and Rivera-Perez selling shirts on First Friday at the corner of 2nd and Market.
Source: Ruth Paloma Rivera-Perez, April Pugh, PPW
Writer: Sue Spolan