On the 1st Friday of every month in Olde City, Philadelphia—literally where the nation was born—boutiques and art galleries alike open their doors to the public all evening, serving with wine and cheese, while local musicians jazz it up on the streets.Relatively new to area but not to the city is Matthew Izzo, apparel boutique and interior design studio that has been pioneering fashion events in Philadelphia for a number of years.
Matthew and boutique manager, Michael Anderer, know exactly how to spice up a first Friday as they showcase contemporary artists upstairs and jewelry designers downstairs, such as Vincenzo Taormina from Sicily.
For the First Friday of May, Matthew Izzo featured the 2009 s/s menswear collection of Wrath Arcane—the clothing label with a message.
I was privileged to attend the event, not only to touch and feel the collection but also to meet with designer, Sean Bilovecky, who agreed to an interview with Men's Fashion by Francesco.
Congratulations on your line... So what is your impression of 1st Friday?
It was really nice to see the amount of people out on the street, even though the weather wasn't the greatest. It's nice to see any city that has foot traffic in and out of shops during the current economic situation. There seemed to be a genuine interest in supporting local businesses and seeing what everyone had to offer.
Can you compare 1st Friday to any other event that you know?
We're from Cleveland. There isn't anything like that here, maybe because we don't have a downtown? There are a few art walks, but nothing like we saw in Philly.
Could you get a feel for men’s fashion in Philadelphia?
There is definitely no shortage of boutiques there. But I would say that Philly had the look and feel of any major metropolitan that is "plugged into" what is going on.
How does the Philadelphia scene compare to Cleveland?
Take about 85% of the people out of Philly and out of First Friday, and you're in Cleveland. It's not the greatest here.
You're working in Europe now... How does men’s fashion there compare to the US?
The UK is a lot like the States. The sensibilities in dress are similar. I would say this is true for Germany and the Netherlands as well. Not so much for France and Italy, though. Things are a little crazy there.
You are a relatively new line... So to what do you attribute your fast success?
We generally tend to ignore trends. We focus inwards on the brand. I think this creates something that is unique and has a voice of its own. People respond to this.
Well, for more of Wrath Arcane sit back and enjoy the show or—better yet—drop in on Matthew Izzo. For those who live a bit farther, why not plan a trip for a 1st Friday and visit Philadelphia's Olde City for yourself?!
Slide show 2009 s/s collection Copyright Wrath Arcane.
Photo top left Copyright Matthew Izzo.
