You know it's good when they don't even need a sign out front. WTHN, an unmarked sneaker and streetwear shop on North Third Street, is the place that's got what no one else can find. On June 17, 2006, Mason Warner, the former store-designer and primary buyer for Ubiq (a street-chic footwear and apparel store on 15th and Walnut) opened WTHN. A more intimate, more discriminating and less overwhelming version of Ubiq, WTHN caters to the knowledgeable buyer.
This weekend, WTHN was one of only five retailers to release the new Alife X Wu-Tang shoe and T-shirt: yellow, black, and ill. The release had guys you'd expect to sleep through Saturday mornings lined up around the corner waiting for WTHN to open its doors.
Warner proudly states that his store is one of about 10 places in the world, and the only one in Philadelphia, to carry Alife apparel. Exclusivity is nothing new to WHTN. On September 9, the store released the "Air You Breathe" pack by Nike, for which three artists each designed a set of sneakers, a T-shirt and a jacket. For three weeks, WTHN was the only store in Philadelphia to sell these items. And on September 23, WHTN became one of only two stores in Philadelphia to sell Nike's much-anticipated "One Time Only" line.
WTHN is not just a go-to site on major release days. Warner's collection is consistently comprised of hard-to-find, high-demand items. Warner recently received a shipment of 72 pieces from Crooks & Castles, a California-based urban streetwear company. During our interview, he informed me that WTHN "sold 20 of them in the last six hours."
Damn.
Warner truly loves what he sells - he wears most the merchandise he carries and has relationships with a number of designers and manufacturers. The result of his discerning eye is a well-selected collection of limited edition kicks by Nike, Vans and Creative Recreation, fitted hats by Duck Sauce, denim by Prps, and various apparel by Crooks & Castles, Alife and Nike - to note a few.
As Warner explains, he comes from a "fan background," so his prices are "legitimate and fair. nothing crazy." Fitted hats are around $30, T-shirts range from $30 to $50, shoes from $80 to $120, and hoodies run somewhere between $100 and $180.
If you're not already sold (which would border on absurd), at least go for the PS2 and Madden NFL 07 that's available for playing by the storefront window.
