Dan's Papers - June 5, 2009 -

Wainscott resident Nick Beech, founder of Hampton & Co., and Mark Epley, mayor of Southampton Village, kicked off a summer of philanthropy. Through its unique business platform, Hampton & Co. is committed to giving back to the local community and producing all of its items in America, donating a minimum of 10% of sales, funds and in-kind donations to select local charities that contribute to the landscape and culture of the Hamptons. By providing consumers with luxurious, high quality classics, Hampton & Co. seeks to encourage commerce, culture and goodwill throughout the community by which it is inspired. Orson D. Munn, a longtime resident of Southampton and a former village trustee, previewed a selection of his remarkable private collection of antique toy soldiers to benefit the Orson D. Munn Endowment Fund for the Toy Museum of New York that is chaired by his daughter, Linda Munn. Other charities Hampton & Co. is supporting include the Parrish Art Museum, the Southampton Fresh Air Home, Southampton Hospital, ARF, Group for the East End, and the Montauk Lighthouse, among others.

Fashion runs in the family for Annie, whose mom used to own a shop in Southampton called Altona for eight years. Deciding to concentrate on her Palm Beach store, Annie wanted to continue offering her product to her Hampton clientele, hence Peter and Annie was born. Initially, the store was supposed to carry only women's clothing, following her mother's style, but with a younger twist. Annie started looking for a younger, sexy and comfortable summery type of clothing line. Annie and Peter discovered the Island Company brand and fell in love with its products and style. The store carries a full collection of Dead Sexy Jeans and its kids line, Sunshine, along with Sugar, Island Company, belts by JeanLouis Fernandez and much more. The Peter and Annie store was designed with summertime in mind, blending light shades of color with a Caribbean charm. Officially launched on Memorial Day weekend, the shop will be open until the end of the season, hopefully extending into the fall/winter.

Chas Godson and his wife, Joanna, have just embarked on a new venture. The couple celebrated the launch of Lennegan & Marantz in Bridgehampton this past weekend with a trade preview cocktail reception. The store will be open to the public this upcoming weekend and will serve as a manufacturer and retailer of upholstered furniture of uncompromising quality, handmade to the highest standards and in the best tradition of English craftsmanship. The store will offer a capsule collection of bespoke sofas, chairs, leather covered occasional pieces and even dog beds, all made to order and available to be customized according to clients' needs. Additionally, they will showcase linens from a Belgian fabric house, as well as Bennison fabrics. Lennegan & Marantz is able to fulfill individual commissions for one-of-a-kind pieces requiring a high degree of sophisticated workmanship.

Nikki Eve, a new store in Sag Harbor, has taken over the space that has been the Haven's House for the past 18 years, has officially opened. The store will be constantly updating merchandise that consists of vintage clothing, jewelry and accessories. It is a refreshing example of quaint, but very unique, high end and casual pieces at affordable prices. "I want to share my visual art with everyone, so I really want there to be something for everybody who comes in," said Nikki Aarons. Nikki Eve features vintage clothing of all eras with a focus on the '60s, '70s and '80s, American and British fashion. You may find some Ossie Clark, Zandra Rhodes, Mary Quant, along with some of those fun designers of the Rock 'n' Roll era. You will also find Victorian through the '50s, with a nifty little '50s burlesque section. In addition, there is Nikki's own line of handmade jewelry with healing stones, a wonderful line of beach glass jewelry by a local artist, in the mix. There will also be a few new organic clothing lines by independent designers such as: m-e, Wren, Play by Sara Reilly and some great organic fragrance oils.

Cori Jean, a young local Sag Harbor designer, has been hard at work building her new company Cori Jean. She designs and sews everything herself and loves every minute of it. Jean calls it one kind of style with an eclectic, experimental eye that brings together ordinary conventions with selective, glamorous couture. It is a modern mix of '30s elegant socialite, '70s edgy punk and '40s librarian. This chemistry brings together a collection of day-to-night and night-to-day designs that are as versatile, ever changing and unique as every woman herself. Insight for these designs is drawn from a rich array of inspirations, including vintage linens, old movies, local celebrities and the beach, all of which combined create a mix of old Hollywood glamour and urban chic. "Designs come out of a love from redesigning vintage linens with unusual patterns and one of kind pieces that fit into an inspirational love of fashion that just makes one smile," said Jean. Her fashions are currently selling at local stores, such as Flying Point, Smith and Gloria Jewel, as well as on her Web site.

Are you a new kid on the block? E-mail me telling me all about your new shop on the East End at newkids@danspapers.com or via fax at 631-726-0189.