Inspired by her grandmother, Eilidh Macintyre opened Made and Maker to share her collection of timeless fashion.

The idea of wearing your grandmother’s clothes does not sound very fashionable as we watch fads whip in and out of style. But owner of Made and Maker, Philadelphia born Eilidh Macintyre, saw the potential of vintage clothing.

She recalled her grandmother’s sewing room as a source of her fascination with clothing as well as reusing materials. “My grandma used to make all her clothes and make all her kids’ clothing. And that’s where I was like lovestruck with shiny pretty objects and making things. And I started collecting vintage when I was probably twelve.”

Nine thousand tons of clothing and footwear textiles were sent to landfills in 2018 and are inherently difficult to recycle materials. One of the main methods of reducing textile waste is to reuse them, which was something that Macintyre considered when opening Made and Maker in 2016. “There are so many beautiful things already out there that are being reused and have been repurposed and reused in such amazing ways. And are a higher, finer quality than what we’re making now, and it’s also affordable,” said  Macintyre.

There are so many beautiful things already out there that are being reused and have been repurposed and reused in such amazing ways. And are a higher, finer quality than what we’re making now, and it’s also affordable.

– Eilidh Macintrye, owner of Made and Maker

Located in Fishtown, Made and Maker offers a huge selection of vintage clothing, accessories, and home goods. The store also promotes creations from other Philadelphia based artists and creators, providing a space for smaller designers to sell their work.

Made and Maker has grown since its opening, and now features creations from other local artists and designers, highlighting those that are also women-owned and dedicated to minimizing waste with recycled materials.

Macintyre hopes to continue inspiring other small, sustainable brands and female creators to keep reaching towards their goals. She says, “Being able to encourage women to actually start like just jump, and that helps me build confidence too. It really is corny, but it really is vital to support one another.” 

The appeal has caught on: Made and Maker was featured in the fifth season Queer Eye to exemplify how to keep your sustainable values without compromising style. Tan France offered his climate activist client Abby Leedy advice on how to wear vintage at Made and Maker.

Made and Maker Reopening Post-COVID

The excitement of shooting for Queer Eye dwindled with the loss of foot traffic due to the pandemic. Like so many small businesses, Macintyre has been faced with hard decisions like whether to keep the doors open.  

After tumultuous times, Macintyre is thrilled to be debuting a selection of vintage wedding dresses and jewelry this week for eco-conscious brides or grooms, along with a colorful selection of sundresses.

Visit Made and Maker

Made and Maker is open Thursday through Sunday from 12 PM to 6 PM at 2021 Frankford Ave. You can follow them on Instagram @MadeandMaker or on Facebook.

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Sophia Healy is an editorial intern with Green Philly. She is a writer and environmentalist from South Philadelphia and a graduate of Temple University. She enjoys exploring the nature of Philly and discovering the many opportunities the city has to offer. View all posts by Sophia Healy