Stockist Highlight: The Observatory Shop
Amanda & Jacqui are the owners and curators of The Observatory Shop, aka Observatory a local yarn shop. They stock yarns from around the world along with all the tools and fun accessories you need to make the cutest knitting projects. In addition to stocking RItual Dyes and other yarn brands, they also have incorporated some clothing lines and homegoods. Cannot wait to check them out next time I am in New York!
RD: I love the shop and the space you guys have created. How did you both get started in this industry? What were you doing before?
OS: Amanda was a sweater designer for almost 20 years before leaving the industry to start my own company working for Ralph Lauren & Gap, specifically, babyGap where I designed sweaters for kids and baby (dream job!) Jacqui was a grant writer and curator of all things cool she runs the brains of the operation and her writing skills really help where Amanda lacks lol.
RD: Would you rather...
Knit with one base for the rest of your life?
OR
Knit with the same color forever?
OS: This question sucks, but.......in our lived color drives everything for us. So I would HAVE to stick with one base in every color of the rainbow!!!!
RD: Tell us about the shop's neighborhood!
OS: We live in a small village about a half-hour from midtown Manhattan called Hastings on Hudson. We like to say we are in the "lower Hudson valley". We face the Palasaides - the giant cliffs on the opposite side of the Hudson River which are stunningly beautiful when the leaves change. The Hudson River, named by the Native Americans as Mahicantuck, which means "great waters in constant motion" or, more loosely, "river that flows two ways." If you look carefully you can see the water shift and its a constant inspiration to us. It's a small town less than 2 square miles and it's inhabited by so many cool creatives in fashion, movies & advertising to name a few. We love both our little town and the larger Westchester County community that comes and joins us and gives us the creative soul that we have established. The Main street has so many cool shops and restaurants opened in the last few years. We encourage you to check out our friends @refillroomhastings @breadandbrinehoh @in2green.popup @mossyferns
RD: Salty or Sweet?
OS: Jacqui: Salty Amanda: Sweet
RD: I love that you guys have incorporated apparel and home goods into the space created. What are your respective absolute favorite things in the shop right now?
OS: Must have the Ace & Jig Hughes Pant - dressy comfort. Look like a million bucks but comfort levels are 100. We love the fact that we stock the matching tops to Hughes but in the same textiles so its this glorified brilliant sweatsuit. Zoom ready on top, comfort on the bottom! Also, any cotton kadhi tops by Auntie Oti are so easy to care for and easy to wear you don't have to think much about getting dressed to do anything, whether it's just hanging in the house or running errands.
RD: What hobbies outside of knitting do you both share? Or is knitting the only shared hobby?
OS: We love to shop, honestly, that sounds so vain and silly but it's so inspiring to see how companies, especially the small ones can pivot thru the face of adversity in the world. We know we run a business and there are the bottom lines, but how do you curate things creatively and give people value in things they fall in love with. Spending money is about balance, spend a little more on something but have it longer, love it forever. We want to reflect that in our own space so we are always searching for that in other companies as well.
You can check out The Observatory Shop online here and give them a visit if you are ever in or around the New York City area!
Comments