Locally-designed, union-made and -decorated goods celebrating the Democratic National Conventionand Philadelphia are now on sale at a new pop-up shopin the Comcast Center.
“Authentic,” was how Philadelphia City Representative Sheila Hess described the merchandise, “and stylish, too.”
“It’s our own local artists who designed it and came up with their own creative context to showcase Philadelphia,” Hess said at a ribbon-cutting for the shop, which was opened by theDNCHost Committeeon Wednesday. “You won’t find these designs in the local tourist shops around town.” The wares, ranging fromclothing andpins,to magnets and other goodies, are designedto be a little bit fancier than the go-tominiatureLiberty Bell souvenir for which Philadelphia is renowned.
“See. Vote. Eat,” reads a design by LisaBeth Weber accompanied by irreverent squiggly drawings of liberty bells, donkeys and pretzels that is printed on cups and T-shirts. Other goods feature the Rocky statue with the word “Yo!” emblazoned in large type. Kevin Washo, executive director of the DNC Host Committee, said they were looking for merchandise that went beyond the portraits of Ben Franklin and other tricorn-hat wearing figures that Philadelphia is known for. “It’s kind of young and fresh, it’s something you can wear,” Washo said. “This is all Philadelphia specific, the artists spent a lot of time on it. You can’t beat that. It really gives you a good flavor of the region.” Philly artists and designers working on the merchandise included Weber, Duke & Winston, Brett Bender, Michael Fulkerson for doyle + associates, Dom Streater, Mary K. Dougherty & Associates, and Dan Duffy. The pop-up shop at the Comcast Center at 1701 John F. Kennedy Boulevard will be “official brick-and-mortar retail store of the Philadelphia 2016 Host Committee,” the DNC said in a press release. The shop will be open Monday to Friday, 8 a.m. to 7 p.m. and Saturdays 8 a.m. to 5 p.m through Aug. 5. The gear, ranging from apparel to magnets and buttons, is all available online at phldncshop.com.