Crossovers

Storefront for Paul's Draperies at 737 South 4th Street. Historical Society of Pennsylvania.

Maxie's Daughter wasn't the only business to shut down. Across the street, you can see the relics of Paul's sign. Yet, Fabric Row is not dead. Rather, the neighborhood is finding new ways to thrive.Just next to Paul's, still standing, is Fleishman, one of the oldest fabric stores in the area, passed down from generation to generation since 1923. Down the street at 725 S Fourth Street is Moore Vintage Archive, a curated vintage store and archive where you can find vintage haute couture unique pieces that embrace the idea of ethical consumption and gender fluidity, as the owner, Keesan Moore, aims to cater to anyone and everyone beyond gender norms. Learn more about Keesan’s vision by watching this interview:

Next, on 744 S Fourth Street, you can find Sweet Peel Vintage, formerly known as Philly Vintage Bazaar, a vintage store co-owned by Abby and Jenn. Their journey started in 2021, when they worked together on a one-off vintage flea market. Sweet Peel today specializes in the 70s-80s-90s eras. “Fabric and style are identity choices,” Abby claims, describing the process of creating the business. Sweet Peel was born out of the need to bridge a gap and create a space accessible to all that would serve as an alternative to fast fashion. Step in and take a look around, you might find your next favorite piece of clothing!

Peddlers on S 4th and Fitzwater, 1914. City of Philadelphia, Department of Records.

Intersection of S 4th and Fitzwater Street, 1938. City of Philadelphia, Department of Records.

At the corner of the building off of S Fourth and Fitzwater, you can spot a tile homage to Mae Reeves.

Tile honoring Mae Reeves. Arianna Olivieri

Mae was an excellent hat manufacturer. She relocated to Philadelphia around 1934 during the Great Migration (1910’s-1970’s) and started Mae's Millinery Shop in 1940 on South Street with great sacrifice. She was among the first African American women to establish a business in the city. South Street was predominantly Black, particularly the Seventh Ward, just a few blocks northwest of here. Reeves later moved her store to West Philadelphia but never to South Fourth Street, even though it would be natural to think she would. Due to racism, it was impossible for Black people to safely live and operate a business in majority-white neighborhoods. Irish, Italian, and Jewish immigrants fought to maintain their newly established position in society and argued against the abolition of slavery. In the tile, Mae’s daughter, Donna Limerick, is shown wearing one of her mother's renowned pieces. The homage to Reeves in Fabric Row is symbolic, demonstrating how her legacy extends beyond the confines of racial segregation.

Citations

“The Generations Collide on Fabric Row./” 2016. Hidden City Philadelphia. June 3, 2016. https://hiddencityphila.org/2016/06/on-fabric-row-pushcarts-and-posh-boutiques-weave-history-with-vitality/. Brier, Bobby. 2020. “Resilience Is Woven into Philly’s Fabric Row.” The Click. December 11, 2020. https://theclick.news/resilience-is-woven-into-phillys-fabric-row/. “Hats off to Mae Reeves!” n.d. National Museum of African American History and Culture. https://nmaahc.si.edu/explore/stories/hats-mae-reeves. Sweet Peel Vintage, Abby. 2024. Review of Fabric Row Interview by Arianna Olivieri.