East Liberty is much more than start-ups and hip hotels. Stores with an emphasis on menswear are embracing the up-and-coming neighborhood, too.
Two brands with roots in other cities recently moved in not far from East End shopping staples Social Status (sneakers and fashion-forward streetwear) and Trim Pittsburgh (designer underwear and swimwear).
Whether his taste is business cool or relaxed casual, these new guys on the block have something for work and play.
Commonwealth Proper Pittsburgh
124 S. Highland Ave. (studio 201), East Liberty
A selection of items on display at Commonwealth Proper Pittsburgh. (Pam Panchak/Post-Gazette)
Even a guy with a bit of a rebellious side needs a sharp suit.
That’s where Commonwealth Proper comes in. Founded in Philadelphia by Craig Arthur von Schroeder (a former soccer player, turned lawyer, turned menswear connoisseur), the company specializes in custom suits for gentlemen bored by pinstripes and paisley prints. Instead, Commonwealth Proper curates fine fabrics and partners with tattoo artists to create original designs for its linings. Clients also work with wardrobe advisers to help them pick the right pieces for their lifestyle and sartorial preferences.
“We have really focused on creating experiential retail,” he says. “We ask a ton of questions so we can help you figure out what you’re going to wear and love.”
That one-on-one experience begins with what he calls the “discovery process.” With the aid of Commonwealth Proper’s proprietary wardrobe checklist (and a glass of whiskey in hand), men browse options, select fabrics and have their measurements taken. Production time is four to six weeks, on average, and all apparel is made in the United States. A fitting session to ensure client satisfaction completes the process.
Shirts start at $225, blazers at $1,495 and suits at $1,950.
“Our clothing is an investment,” Mr. von Schroeder says. “I’ve been doing this for 10 years and I have the clothing I made 10 years ago. If you look at the cost per use over time, clients can see the value.”
Commonwealth Proper also has studios in Philadelphia and Atlanta. Mr. von Schroeder says he had been eyeing the Pittsburgh market for a while before opening in East Liberty this spring. He held a trunk show to test the waters.
“It’s sort of the new cool part of the city that’s just being discovered. I think that really plays well with what our brand is all about — new frontiers and new beginnings.”
Running the studio is Ali Murray, a New York transplant who studied fashion design at Parsons School of Design and previously worked for Ralph Lauren.
“Being in Pittsburgh, it’s been so refreshing,” she says. “Doors open so much easier and people are so much more welcoming and supportive of new businesses.”
Commonwealth Proper is talking about holding trunk shows at nearby businesses and designing off-the-rack Pittsburgh graphic tees with materials from Thread International, an East Liberty-based start-up that creates fabrics from plastic bottles salvaged in Haiti and Honduras.
To schedule an appointment, visit commonwealthproper.com, email service@commonwealthproper.com or call 412-218-0784. A launch party will be held at 7 p.m. June 21. RSVP at pitt@commonwealthproper.com.
Homage
6010 Penn Ave., East Liberty
The interior of one of Homage's stores in Columbus. It will open its first store this month in Pittsburgh. (Courtesy of Homage)
Ryan Vesler believes every T-shirt tells a story.
As a teenager growing up on the outskirts of Columbus, Ohio, he hunted in local thrift shops for vintage tees with a worn-in feel and a hint of history.
After college, he turned this love into a burgeoning business in his parents’ basement. Ten years later, his homegrown, retro-inspired apparel brand Homage has a licensing deal with the NBA, a $10 million investment from fellow Columbus brand Express, a robust digital following (www.homage.com) and six stores across Ohio and Michigan. Its seventh is slated to open later this month in East Liberty.
With an emphasis on professional and college sports-themed tees and hooded sweatshirts, Pittsburgh was a natural fit for Homage’s next store.
“In a city like Pittsburgh, you see the passion and just the joy that the teams bring to people, whether it’s the Pirates, the Steelers or the Penguins,” says Mr. Vesler, who’s dubbed himself the brand’s chief T-shirt officer. “As a sports fan who loves telling stories, it’s contagious.”
Homage’s specialty is designs lifted from local legends and lore. Its Pittsburgh tees include Primanti’s sandwiches, the Civic Arena and “City of Champions” against the Downtown skyline. (Marc-Andre Fleury wore one after the Penguins clinched the Stanley Cup in 2009.) That Pittsburgh pride will carry over into the brick-and-mortar experience, with posters of Willie Stargell in a shiny 1970s suit and other unique black-and-gold memorabilia on the walls.
Beyond sports, Homage strives “to connect and inspire” (men and women) with clothing that references pop culture, music or history that people can wear and relate to. Another component of this mission is the Homage Works program, which donates 20 percent of proceeds from particular designs to a cause.
“We might seem like a fan shop on the surface but truly being a brand is not selling more commoditized sports shirts but about standing for something,” Mr. Vesler says.
Sara Bauknecht: sbauknecht@post-gazette.com or on Twitter and Instagram @SaraB_PG.
First Published: June 5, 2017, 4:00 a.m.
