Small Business Spotlight: The Vault by Volpe Beringer

Main Street Manayunk is a haven for shoppers looking for gems outside of Center City, Philadelphia— and now, Project Runway alumn (and Season 18 runner-up!) Nancy Volpe Beringer has opened her very own pop-up shop right on the street itself.

The store, known as The Vault by Volpe Beringer, offered me a warm welcome as I shopped the vintage collection and modern, Volpe Beringer-label pieces, and Nancy Volpe Beringer herself gave me some insight into the store, her brand, and her mission as a designer.

A chat with Nancy Volpe Beringer: The Vault, accessbility, and more

Volpe Beringer and I started at the beginning— and then dug deep into the world of fashion and inclusivity— and you can read it all here:

Q: When and why did you decide to get into fashion?

A: I got a promotion at work and was miserable. I was watching Project Runway one day and thought, “I wish I could do that.” So, years later, while my son was pursuing music and filmography post-grad and learning so many cool things, I decided to do it. I quit my job and went to Drexel University for Fashion. I graduated, then applied for Project Runway— and I got in. (…) I don’t think the judges understood me at first, but at the end of the show, when they looked at all my pieces, they said, “Wow, we really underestimated you”— and that’s part of the Philly spirit. Being the “underdog” and going for it anyway.

Q: I love that, and you definitely make Philly proud! You state online that your mission is mainly about inclusivity; what else drives you in that regard?

A: My mission is to bring three things to fashion: sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity. I want to use this brand and this Vault to give a voice to those in fashion who’ve been silenced, who haven’t had a voice in that area before. Did you know we’re the only brand in the country that adapts high-end fashion to every body type, every ability? Right here in Philly, and we’re the only ones doing it right now. From adapting pieces to help people with varying mobility or motor skill impairments, to adapting pieces or curating pieces in a variety of more inclusive sizes— that’s such a big part of the mission for us. And keeping it sustainable, creating or helping you find pieces you can wear for years and pass down. (…) So, it’s mainly those three things: sustainability, accessibility, and inclusivity.

Q: That’s fantastic. Is there anything else you want readers to know about The Vault, your Volpe Beringer line, or where you’re headed in the future?

A: Just that people of all abilities, all body types, all gender expressions can come here and experience the world of high fashion— right here in Philadelphia. No matter who you are, you can find pieces here to express yourself. That’s what fashion is all about, I think— not trends, but expressing yourself and immersing yourself in “living art” that evokes positive emotion.

You can visit The Vault by Volpe Beringer pop-up all season long, located at 4347 Main Street, Philadelphia. You can also shop their website and learn more about their mission there, too. You don’t want to miss this pop-up and you definitely should stay in-the-know about this groundbreaking brand!

Xoxo, MM.