Born in 2013 as a printer paper zine in a college dorm room, Hamper is a slow, evolving idea that’s spent years incubating.

We hope to be friendly to anyone who struggles with mental illness and who feels engulfed in shame they haven’t finished more projects. We know how cyclical that shame is — how feeling like you haven’t done enough keeps you from doing anything at all.

We hope you like reading us, but more, we hope to remind you that it’s ok for things to take time. It’s ok to try and stop and try and fail and try and stop again.

That’s the best part of vintage — knowing nothing is ever too old or too worn. Thrifted clothes remind us we all get second chances. Making new shit from old shit means change is possible, it just takes time.

Seeing potential in things others discard reminds us that redemption is possible.

Our Values:

We work hard to live to our values and we hope this publication shows that. In the current political hellscape, it feels important to make our values known.

We believe in the power of self-expression. We think anyone who wants to should have the chance to be a published writer or artist.

We think expensive designer clothes are stupid and that having a lot of money or followers does not make you more stylish or interesting. In fact, we think making outfits out of thrifted and upcycled clothing is the coolest thing you can do.

We don’t believe in holding individuals responsible for systemic issues, so we try not to judge individuals for their shopping habits and patterns. But we do try to stand against mindless consumerism. We do not think every problem can be solved with a product. We encourage borrowing, repurposing, or buying secondhand/handmade/from a small business before going to big box stores.

We believe in trying and trying again. We believe in print media. We don’t believe in urgency. We don’t think it’s cringe to try or that you should only be creative in your youth. We think it’s OK to not be famous by 30.

We think fat people are sexy. We honor trans and non-binary icons. We do not care about where or if you went to college or high school or where or if you work now.

We don’t believe in prison or cops. We don’t believe in the war on drugs or using stigmatized language around addiction. We think everyone should be Narcan trained. We believe in gender-affirming care, universal health care, and abortion.

We don’t believe in capitalism, a two-party political system or the military-industrial complex. We believe that everyone should have access to safe housing and food. Until we get there, we believe unhoused people are our neighbors and belong in our communities. We believe in food and resource redistribution. We believe everybody belongs.

We know that there is endless vibrant art and culture outside of New York and LA. We think Philadelphia is the best city in the world. We believe in giving back to our communities. We know there are a million ways to do that.

We believe in road trips and fountain soda and friendship and second acts and chosen family and making a life that feels right for you.

We believe that being different doesn’t mean you’re “asking for attention,” but we also think it’s fine if you are. We believe in the underdog and the freak and the outcast and the kid who sits alone at lunch. We believe androgyny can be colorful and maximal.

We believe clothes are meant to be worn.

We know your favorite pieces are often in the hamper.