Hidden Gem of the Hamptons
Every once in a while, a new hidden gem will be unearthed in the Hamptons, one that brings a fresh perspective and vibrance to the high-end coastal community, and that if personified by a color would be a muted light blue or soft beige. The hidden gem of the Hamptons this season is the Hidden Gem boutique in Southampton, which is owned and operated by sisters, Temidra and Tanya Willock. Temidra and Tanya grew up in East Hampton and were raised by their parents who hailed from Antigua. Their nuclear family often travels back to visit friends and extended family, until COVID, and once you step inside their store, you see the perfect amalgam of Hamptons meets the Caribbean Islands. The sisters have merged their two worlds into a beautiful and perfectly curated store that is a must visit next time you are strolling through Southampton Village, and thankfully they took the time to talk to us at Recreational Habits about their background, store, family, and future.
While attending university, Temidra studied fashion and textile design and Tanya studied photography. After graduation and working for a few years in their respective fields, they found themselves in a place of limbo and daydreaming about their future which would often link back to their past. “We always had the dream of having a store together, and we are naturally crafty individuals in our own fields, so when the timing lined up, we took the leap and took advantage of our momentum,” said Tanya. They decided that they would open a store in December of 2018 and signed their lease a few weeks later in January 2019 and began to make that space their own while organizing and accumulating inventory. “Because of our background in art school, we had a huge network of creators and friends that we approached to see if they would sell their items in our store,” recalled Temidra. They also wanted to make sure that their heritage from Antigua was represented, “Both the Hamptons and Antigua are beachy, but it is like someone turned up the color saturation in Antigua, versus in the Hamptons it is all a bit more muted and quieter. Blending the two-aesthetics felt natural.”
The Hamptons crowd flocked to the store, which is located on Jobs Lane next to Ralph Lauren, and their clients houses became a bit more colorful, but a year later the world would come to a screeching halt and enter lockdown. An editor at Martha Stewart Magazine included them and Hidden Gem in a story and the hidden gem of the Hamptons became a sensation across the nation, and they began to sell through their website to people that would never have stumbled into their store or even visited Southampton, NY. “We were getting all of these orders and running out of stock and selling out across the board! Nearly all of our inventory is one of a kind handmade pieces so once it is sold there aren’t 1,000 others for us to sell. Then it became how do we continue to source and produce high quality beautiful items, because at the end of the day we are artists at heart and do not want to mass produce anything.”
While many people suggest not working with family, they have found unconditional support from one another. Temidra welcomed her first child last year and experienced a tough pregnancy, and Tanya was a massive support in the store and personally. “I am able to trust my sister fully, and because of her heart and hard work ethic, I was able to focus on my health and my baby and not have the additional stress about the store and I am so grateful to her for that,” said Temidra. As Tanya reflects, she said, “I think a lot of people think working with family is going to be hard but working with anyone is going to be difficult at times. One of the benefits of working with your sister is that you have been working together your whole lives, just in different capacities and there is less of a curve when communicating. If I have a question, I never have to worry if I sound stupid and vice versa.” They also are aware of their independent roles within the business and allow each other to lean into their strengths and away from their weaknesses which thankfully are complimentary for them.
As they head into the 2021 summer season, Hidden Gems will be collaborating with the local restaurant, Hello Coco, to do curated beach dinners, CBD. Hello Coco provides the food, and Hidden Gems provide the decor. When they are not at the store or setting up their gorgeous beach dinners you can often spot them taking long walks on the beach with Temidra’s daughter. Next time you are in the Hamptons be sure to stop in and say hi! Afterwards you should check out their top three Hamptons recommendations, the Longhouse Reserve, the Montauk Pier, and experiencing CBD, one of their curated beach dinners.
Be sure to follow them on IG here and shop their online store here!
