Broadway Market Co. Part I: Revisiting 1926

I found a cool new market and I'm obsessed with it!! It's called Broadway Market Co. and it's located at 483 Broadway. Broadway Market Co. is just one of three locations by The Market NYC - They have two other locations in Nolita and Brooklyn, but I haven't gone to either because I'm currently obsessed with about the one on Broadway.

This meme basically describes me. With everything. In every possibly way.

I could go on all day about the awesome things I found there - like the little cafe at the back of the store that serves yummy crepes - but I thought it'd be most efficient to highlight three of my favorite vendors there, in three separate posts (because they got too long to be a single post!). Here's the first!

Founded, owned, and run by John J Fondrisi (also affectionately known as "JJ"), 1926 is a fashion line that marries glamour and nostalgia with the comfort of cotton.

Here's JJ posing in his shop in his glorious Halloween costume!

The first thing that caught my eye at the shop was the New York Crop Jumper which I'm wearing here:

It caught my eye because I was thinking: I've just moved to NYC, and I need something that is simple and versatile, yet still have a sparkly or reflective element and hopefully includes an element of timelessness. Talk about the laws of attraction!

Anyway, the top is free-sized (which means it's pretty spacious when I wear it) and it's great for layering, especially now that Fall has arrived and the weather's cooled down a fair bit! I wear it a few times a week and I must say that it does a good job of keeping me warm even as the cold wind blows!

I also bought this super cute pink tee!

(Photo from 1926 site)

I've worn it but I haven't had the chance to take a selfie with it, so I'll probably update this post once I get that done! This t-shirt comes in different sizes - From XS to XXL. I got a XS and it fits just right, not too tight and not too loose! It's so comfy, it's got my favorite elements - Pink and gold foil.

So as I was browsing at the shop, JJ shared a bit about the inspiration behind the brand. His designs feature some of his grandfathers' drawings, and his grandfather's signature is printed on some of the items - Usually on the sleeves of tops. The idea of combining the past with the present and making it relevant and relatable, really resonated with me.

I wanted to learn more about the brand, so I did a bit more reading on the website, and here's a summary of the brand story - 1926 was inspired by JJ's grandfather, Joseph Fondrisi, who was a fashion designer. 1926 was the year that Joseph began studying fashion while he simultaneously worked at a dress factory by night to provide for his family. JJ's father, John C. Fondrisi, was an architect.

As the grandson of a dress designer and son of an architect, JJ was constantly surrounded by and immersed in an appreciation of art in all its forms from the moment he was born! He was introduced to art, acting, and music classes by his parents from a young age, so it's really no surprise that he would spend the rest of his life creating and being part of the arts.

JJ studied theatre early on, but later switched to Interior Design. While still in school, he gained experience working as a visual director and buyer at an art gallery in SOHO before making a leap by starting to curate his own art space - Fondrisi Gallery in The Hamptons, which worked on for eight good years, all the while sharpening his design and business skills.

One afternoon, as he was pulling artwork for a new client, JJ stumbled upon his grandfather's sketches and old black & white photos of his grandparents' friends and family having a good time during simpler times. This led of the birth of 1926 - The day when JJ realized that the collection of sketches and photographs offered a glimpse into his legacy as well as the art deco Prohibition era in New York. JJ knew that he had to share all that in a different medium, and the 1926 fashion line was born!

1926nyc Jean

1926nyc Millie

Meet Jean and Millie. (Images from 1926 site)

I really like that there's a whole story behind different characters (meet all the ladies here) and photos printed on the shirts, and it makes me appreciate the designs so much more, beyond the fact that the designs look great. Personally, I've never experienced the 1920's myself so it's kinda cool that I'm getting a glimpse of it through the brand.

Also, if you're a huge fan of The Great Gatsby but you're not entirely keen on dressing up Flapper-style, 1926 is a great middle-ground that doesn't compromise on comfort - That I can assure you!

Check out the 1926 site here to learn more, or simply to start shopping!

Part II coming up next. Stay tuned!

#1926 #nostalgia #1926NYC #broadwaymarketco #artdeco