A week during every August, a temporary “mini-mall opens up within a few blocks of the retail hub of Bridgehamptons Common Mall. During the week of the Hamptons Classic Horse Show, around five-dozen entrepreneurs and charities set up booths to sell their wares, many of them one-of-a-kind.
Browsers could look over a new Land Rover, shop for a crib at AFK Furniture for Children, or sort through leather jotters, wallets and notebooks from the GiGi Graphic Image Factory Outlet. Therapy Clothing was showing versatile jersey dresses, Dubarry of Ireland brought waterproof boots. As we wandered from tent to tent, these are a few displays that caught our eyes.
O! THOSE BAGS
Working with supple calfskin, soft wool felt and fine Italian linen Jill Fairchild and Karen Baldwin create “approachable luxury” in unique highly-crafted handbags, duffels, and totes. With gunmetal trim and handcrafted hammered handles the double-pocketed black Italian leather signature “O” bag blends architecture and art. Feather-light and meticulously stitched duffels come in iguana stamped leather and a spectrum of luscious pastel shades in ultra soft wool. www.FairchildBaldwin.com
TRENDY TOILE
Forsaking historic “Watteauesque” pictures, Sonia O’Mara has designed the traditional mono-color print in updated motifs inspired by the Hamptons and New York City. Created in her Union Square studio, the Hamptons version shows windmills, the Montauk lighthouse and Bridgehampton’s Candy Kitchen in navy on white linen. The New York theme is based around Central Park’s Bethesda Fountain and comes in charcoal and chocolate. Wastebaskets and trinket trays, pillows, market bags and satchels are some of the applications. www.SoniaOmara.com
MODEL METALWORKS
Created by artisans in Mexico, pewter dishes, trays and bowls reminiscent of leaves, canoes, nautilus shells and other natural forms and artful baskets woven of pine needles trimmed with bright nickel rims are sold by Model Metalworks, which supports artisan communities promoting prosperity, dignity and preservation of local cultures and traditions. Pine needles gathered from the forest floor are bundled and woven into humbly elegant baskets with the natural pine fragrance. The oven and refrigerator-to-table pewter pieces are cast in sand and require no polishing. www.modelmetalworks.com
PET PICTURES
Imaginatively cropped and strikingly posed, Jim Dratfield’s Petography captures each pet’s unique personality. Bringing portable lights and backdrops to the familiar setting of the client’s home, Dratfield creates an affinity with the pet, which leads to an authentic portrayal. Many of the photographer’s pictures appear also in more than a dozen books he’s authored. www.petography.com
LOVELY LLAMA
Creamy shepherdess Salve, fragrant lavender sage loofahs and honey scented lip balm are some of the personal care products produced by Tabbethia Haubold-Mager from her herd of llamas at Long Island Livestock Company. A professional shearer, Tabbethia retrieves “buttons” of lambs wool died into delicate shades and weaves llama yarn into strands. The wares include woven in natural shades and portraits of llamas stamped on plates and bowls. www.LILivestockCo.com
STABLE SATCHELS
Equestrian tradition inspired six limited edition nanobags introduced at the horse show by performance equestrian accessories manufacturer Ariat International. Blending the firm’s knowledge of authentic style and craftsmanship, the bags are handcrafted in New York City and are made of Italian calfskin detailed with hand-finished horse hardware. Handles and strapping are inspired by turn of the century bridles. Along with the Pelham Cross-Body Bag, the Lexington Magazine and Bexley Totes, the Del Mar Bucket Bag and Santa Fe Hobo Fringe, the Georgina Satchel is named for rider Georgina Bloomberg pictured at the right above. www.ariat.com
