By Kate Berube
Tucked away around the bend of a residential street a block away from the bay, Hannah Giannico and Monica Guerrero spent a recent brisk Saturday morning setting up a popup holiday boutique featuring merchandise from their local brands Blue Cove Wear and Purenature. Beneath a heated outdoor tent and cheerful Christmas lights were carefully curated tables filled with handmade coastal décor, apparel, prints, and jewelry laid out for the holiday shoppers about to arrive.
The similarities between the two childhood friends turned entrepreneurs are striking. Both Giannico and Guerrero are 2015 Bayport-Blue Point Graduates, both recently returned home after college graduation, and both have been inspired by growing up on the Great South Bay to create original wearable pieces of art. Both are also, as it turns out, incredibly talented.
Blue Cove Wear began three years ago when Giannico, who had just begun nursing school, was encouraged by her aunt to sell her Long Island silhouette seascapes painted on framed rustic wood. Those same paintings now grace the backs of crewnecks and long sleeve t-shirts worn through the hallways of high school’s island-wide. With distinctly beachy boho vibes, every individual item in Blue Cove’s line is clearly indicative of Giannico’s personal love for her hometown.
Purenature, established in 2019, predominantly features elegant, casual, homemade jewelry. Guerrero, a graduate of the Fashion Institute of Technology, inherited her love of jewelry making from her mother, who herself is a creative small business owner. With clean natural lines and muted earthy coastal tones, Purenature’s aesthetic draws many elements from Guerrero’s south shore surroundings. Recently, Purenature has expanded to include a new line of locally sourced floral designs to grace homes this holiday season.
Looking for the perfect locally-created gift? Visit their websites and place an order for the beach bums in your life today.
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