Veracity

Bio

Meet Vera! Vera Jiang was born in China where she traveled and lived in many great cities with her parents’ work requirement. Vera moved from Beijing to New York City in her teenage years and earned her BA in sociology from Fordham University. She then earned her Juris Doctor from Rutgers Law School with a full-tuition scholarship which later brought her to Philadelphia. She also holds certificates in Financial Analysis from Harvard Law School and in Fashion Law from the Fashion Law Institute. 

Vera has been a fashionista ever since kindergarten. After school she would share with her mother what the teacher was wearing that day, e.g., a silk black floral dress, or a cable knit cardigan. This love has led her to her path not only as a lawyer, but as fashion influencer and eventual small business owner.

Vera is sophisticated, strong, and uncompromising. She recognizes that her True Self is her greatest contribution. Independent and creative, she walks her personal path daily with a sense of curiosity and adventure.

Origin Story

Vera started her legal career in the beginning of the pandemic and was working remotely as a litigation lawyer. The job wasn’t fulfilling her creativity thirst so she started thinking more about what she had always wanted…to own her own business.

“I was looking at commercial space in Center City but they were insanely expensive. When I heard that the owner of Sophisticated Seconds wanted to retire, we started the conversation of me taking over the space. I live in Naval Square and know that many young professionals like myself in this neighborhood would love a modern boutique with art, fashion, and modern design in one space. After a couple months of transition, my vision for the store became clear and I found great contractors to make it into reality. I wanted to create a warm and cozy space, using neutral colors, organic curves and lots of natural light. In the meantime, I started scouting for artists who are based in Philly and New York. Through art exhibitions, gallery shows, and scrolling on instagram, I found amazing artists who really connected me with and believed in my ideas: shoutout to Liz- Elizabeth Bergeland, Kay- Seohyung Lee, Halle Ballard, Sirui Chen, Skye from Smells like Crime!” 

After months of hard work, the remodel was done. VE·RAC·I·TY officially opened on 8.18.2022, continuing the legacy of the much loved consignment store – Sophisticated Seconds with a modern concept. “Taking inspiration from nature, architecture, and the work of my favorite artists, the VE·RAC·I·TY gaze is that of the New Feminine who is emerging NOW.”

“Art and fashion, intrinsically linked and more so than ever. VE·RAC·I·TY is the first Art and Fashion Gallery in Philadelphia. We present an immersive art and fashion experience, representing Philadelphia and New York based female artists and designers: Kay Seohyung Lee, Elizabeth Bergeland, Sirui Chen, Halle Ballard, Alissa Eberle, Jocelyn Hill, and Smells Like Crime. The fashion collection features modern, chic, timeless, and gender-fluid designs with a mixture of luxury and rising brands. The brands we carry include and are not limited to: WeWoreWhat, Senssse, Simon Miller, Jonathan Simkhai, Self-portrait, Réalisation Par, Rouge, Sezane, Maxime Simoens, Yee Si NYC.”