Fashion, much like history, has a way of repeating itself—and the early 2000s are no exception. In a city like Philadelphia, where youth culture often drives trends, 2000s-inspired fashion has made a noticeable resurgence. On any given day, it’s not hard to spot young Philadelphians sporting oversized jeans, bold accessories, and statement belts reminiscent of the era.
In this photo-essay, three young Philadelphia natives share their personal journeys through fashion, reflecting on how both Philadelphia’s unique style and the 2000s have inspired them and shaped their current looks.
Saul Ortiz
Saul Ortiz, 16, from North Philadelphia, is a student at Cristo Rey who is heavily inspired by NYC, anime, and older niche styles such as indie sleaze. In the next ten years, he plans on incorporating more colors, shapes, and different pieces into his style. He also credits artists such as Tyler the Creator, A$AP Rocky, and the band Odd Future for helping him develop his look. He shops at thrift stores like 2nd Street, Buffalo Exchange, Philly Aids Thrift and Retrospect. Trends he’s looking forward to are fur, denim, and more y2k silhouettes.
At 6:45 p.m. on Feb. 7, High School student Saul uses an old film camera found in the South Street store Retrospect to emphasize his thrifted rings and freshly curled hair. Jewelry and accessories are a major aspect of his fashion sense as he believes they can pull a whole outfit together.At 6:56 p.m. on Feb. 7, Saul listens to music by Tyler the Creator on headphones at Repo Records on South Street. Listening to Tyler helped to influence his fashion sense from a young age and has allowed him to explore different art forms as a way to express himself. At 7:51 p.m. on Feb. 7, in downtown Philadelphia Saul sits on a ledge with green and white graffiti sprayed on the wall behind him. The graffiti corresponds with his outfit, he emphasizes how skating has influenced his art style.
Diamond Rivera
Diamond Rivera, 15, of North Philadelphia, describes her style as earthy and y2k. Seeing other people express themselves with clothing sparked her interest in something more creative with her own fashion. Since the age of eight, she has been making her own clothes and shopping at downtown thrift stores. One major tip she has is to “never be afraid to break fashion rules.”
At 5:43 p.m. on Feb. 8, in Garland of Letters Bookstore on South Street, Diamond holds a golden star to draw focus on the gold charms in her braids. Hair is a major aspect of Diamond’s fashion and she uses it to express herself and highlight different details in her style.At 5:48 p.m. on Feb. 8, in the back of Garland of Letters Bookstore on South Street, Diamond places a colorful butterfly next to her bright red necklace to show the contrast between her style. Accessorizing is something that Diamond enjoys and finds joy in making the simplest things an accessory.At 5:52 p.m. on Feb. 8 in Repo Records on South Street, Diamond drops a candle in the front of the store. The different colors create contrast in her outfits and forces us to draw attention to the gold within her outfit, her necklace and charms in her hair.
Asia Quick
Asia Quick, 18, from Northeast Philadelphia, credits her best friend for inspiring her fashion style. “Because of my built up anger, I express myself through black because it represents the anger within,” she said. One thing she is looking forward to doing is opening her own clothing shop that empowers women of color and reminds them that they don’t need to be placed in a box. In the future she is looking forward to seeing more street wear and less stereotypes within the fashion community regarding Black and Brown women.
At 6:08 p.m. on Feb. 11, in a downtown Philadelphia garage, Asia’s pink nails are holding her black belt. Her nails also draw attention to the gold chain above her belt. Every aspect of an outfit matters to Asia. She carefully picks out accessories that match the vibe that she is looking for.In the Philadelphia Fashion District at 6:56 p.m. on Feb. 11, Asia wears brown sunglasses in the store Zumiez. The different shades of brown emulate a specific era of 2000s fashion and highlight her gold chains and necklaces.On Feb. 11 at 7:05 p.m., Asia stands in front of the changing rooms in Zumiez located in the Philadelphia Fashion District as she checks her instagram. Her streetwear outfit is completed by the graffiti behind her.
