Seam Change

new crew: (From left) Mayberry and her wares at Hand Impressions; Kane and Feldbaum settle in to Aenigma.

Photo By: Christina M. Felice

Fabric Row’s not just for fabric anymore.

by Debra Auspitz

On a balmy Saturday in late March, the section of Fourth Street south of Bainbridge known as “Fabric Row” is bustling. For several blocks each storefront boasts a different array of brightly colored material or patterned upholstery, with signs displaying the names of families whose businesses have made the street the destination for both casual shoppers and pro designers.

But over the past few months, the, er, fabric of this street has undergone some changes, most notably in the increase of boutiques and galleries that don't necessarily specialize in retailing textiles. The change has been very subtle, so much so that on this particular sunny Saturday afternoon, two fabric merchants sitting outside of one of their stores had to confer for a moment before directing a passerby toward one of the newer shops, Hand Impressions. Asked for the location of a store that sells handbags, one merchant replied, somewhat incredulously, "Handbags?" while the other vaguely pointed south.

But Hand Impressions is there, on Fourth Street between Fitzwater and Catharine, its display of multi-hued handbags standing out among the surrounding windows stacked with rolls of material. The display -- minimal, with an Old City-gallery feel to the space revealed inside -- contrasts with the inviting chaos of many of Fourth Street's storefronts.

Photo By: Christina M. Felice

Inside, owner and artist Jennifer Kaisa Mayberry is tending to her baby son Blake while her daughter Kendra chats up visitors. The small showroom holds the bags, by designer Liz McIlvane, who makes them out of 1960s and '70s vintage French vinyl in wild colors and patterns, fabric originally intended for awnings and outdoor furniture. The bags can only be found in two spots outside of Hand Impressions -- Joan Shepp and the Art Museum's gift shop. The showroom also has richly textured, abstract paintings on the walls, all by members of Mayberry's family (her brother and her husband's brother), assorted ceramics and cases of jewelry designed and made by Mayberry. Farther back lie long tables and jewelry-making equipment, which Mayberry uses for her weekly classes for adults and kids.

Mayberry is aware of the contrast between her shop and the others around her, and she says she took it into consideration when choosing this location for her opening in December. "My concern was fitting in on Fabric Row," she says. "Fourth Street is changing right now," she adds, "but I'd hate for it not to be Fabric Row. I want to be associated with Fabric Row." Mayberry uses the handbags as an example of how her store can still "feel fabricky."

"I feel very comfortable here," she continues. "I'm happy to be in the neighborhood." Mayberry has been in the neighborhood since 1971; her father, Alden Blyth, is a prominent local architect with offices on American Street. All of her siblings are artists, though Mayberry first pursued a career in biological research before finding her true calling.

Hand Impressions isn't the only shop adding a new dimension to Fabric Row. A few blocks up is Aenigma, Lynda Kane's eclectic shop packed with jewelry, accessories and home-accent pieces. The costume jewelry is impressive -- you could get pretty decked out without dropping a lot of cash. Kane has been a collector and avid traveler for years, and only in October decided finally to settle down. When she was asked to come look at the inventory of the space's previous owner when she was going out of business, Kane recalls, "I walked in here and I said, ŒI don't want her jewelry, I want her shop.'" Kane did extensive renovations to the building, creating a main showroom and a back office replete with an ornate desk, chair and lighting fixture where Kane hopes to have any number of special features, from an astrologer to a makeup artist complete with a unique line of makeup and skin care. The shop is named after the chanty music group but also, Kane says, because she "wasn't sure what it was going to be."

Aenigma's manager, Kimberly Feldbaum, like Mayberry, extols the virtues of her long-established neighbors. "The neighborhood has been so warm and receptive," she says, and Kane notes "this street is getting hot."

Hand Impressions, 759 S. Fourth St., 215-928-9286; Aenigma, 709 S. Fourth St., 215-351-0915.

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October 9, 2003
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