Cartolina Opens NYC Flagship
Business - October 10, 2023
By Lisa Lockwood
The women's apparel brand is distinguished by vintage-inspired fabrics and modern silhouettes with feminine sensibility.
Cartolina will open its first flagship in New York City at 966 Madison Avenue on Tuesday. The women’s apparel brand is known for combining vintage-inspired fabrics with modern classic silhouettes. The Manhattan store marks the brand’s first brick-and-mortar location, following its presence at Nantucket’s Centre Pointe boutique. The 250-square-foot store features an interior design invoking the brand’s heritage and will offer a selection of it blouses, skirts and dresses. Since its launch three years ago by East Coast entrepreneur Margaret Anne Nolen, Cartolina has gained a following for a product line known for details such as custom prints and fine embroidery. “This long-anticipated venture into New York City is nothing short of a dream realized and it signifies a momentous milestone in Cartolina’s journey,” Nolen said. “Having grown up with fond childhood memories of this vibrant city, the prospect of establishing our presence here is particularly heartwarming.” Cartolina, which is based in Newtown Square, Penn., is inspired by travel, life adventures and memories. Italian for “postcard,” the brand is sold online at cartolinanantucket.com, the new freestanding store and Nolen’s Centre Pointe multi-brand boutique in Nantucket. It is also available at stores such as Charbellem in Princeton, N.J., Two Skirts in Telluride, Colo., and Two Friends in Saint Simons Island in Georgia.
Nolen noted that the design of the store was done as a collaboration between herself and Sharon Gaffney of Birch Knoll Home. The key design feature is the photo wall. “My mother loved traveling and exploration and she also loved fashion and sometimes did modeling. Our favorite photo is of my mother in the center of the wall, surrounded by a few photographs that were from her personal archives. The other images are memories, or postcards taken personally by myself and my family on trips all over the world, including both Portugal and Scotland, which have been the vision behind the last two collections. Each collection will represent another geographical location of inspiration. The images we will continue to collect like postcards, walking into Cartolina will feel like that of a stamped passport. The apparel ranges from $200 to $800. Among the anticipated bestsellers are The Peggy top in custom heritage embroidery for $248, the Katherine blouse in cerulean for $378 and the Winifred Sweater in heathered pearl for $348. In addition, the Chelsea Jacket for $598 and The Madison dress for $648, which are exclusive to the Madison Avenue store and arrive in November, are expected to be top sellers.