As the weather warms up (whether with bump or without) I always gravitate towards easy lightweight clothes. Unfortunately during the summer that often means casual sundresses and lots of lightweight cotton. And then I found Caryna Nina… This line of caftans, cover-ups, shirts, and dresses is exactly what my summer wardrobe was craving! The silk chiffon one-of-a-kind designs are perfect for a special night out but can just as easily be worn over a bathing suit when running around town. They are also ideal for travel. Just fold them up, toss them in a bag, and bring more than one on your next trip. They come out of the bag looking as good as new. Caryna who creates the line is fabulous and is focused on making women feel feminine and beautiful. You can find her pieces online and for those who live in the Greenwich area you can shop Caryna’s line at a special trunk show being hosted at Back 40 Mercantile in Old Greenwich on Tuesday August 5th from 12pm-5pm. Trust me – you won’t want to miss it.
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Caryna Miocic in her own design.
Caryna and one of Back 40 Mercantile’s owners Katrina Bischoff both wearing Caryna Nina designs.
Q&A with Caryna Miocic of Caryna Nina
How long has your line been around?
It will be 14 years this December 1st. I can’t believe it! Time has flown by!
It will be 14 years this December 1st. I can’t believe it! Time has flown by!
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Why did you start the Caryna Nina brand?
I decided to go back to Design school when I was already working in Fashion PR in NYC and couldn’t find anything I liked in the stores back in 1998… I got accepted to Parsons, and went with the intention of ALWAYS starting my own line, especially something that would be easy to travel with, as I have always traveled extensively.
I decided to go back to Design school when I was already working in Fashion PR in NYC and couldn’t find anything I liked in the stores back in 1998… I got accepted to Parsons, and went with the intention of ALWAYS starting my own line, especially something that would be easy to travel with, as I have always traveled extensively.
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Who is your muse and what inspires you when you are creating new pieces?
If I had to pick a “muse” it would have to be a bohemian gypset personality, or my mom, as it was always about traveling, yet in style!! WHAT inspires me the most when creating new pieces is fabric AND color. I have ALWAYS loved molding and playing with fabric, even as a little girl.
If I had to pick a “muse” it would have to be a bohemian gypset personality, or my mom, as it was always about traveling, yet in style!! WHAT inspires me the most when creating new pieces is fabric AND color. I have ALWAYS loved molding and playing with fabric, even as a little girl.
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Who is your ideal client?
My ideal client is a woman who is not scared to express herself and look unique. She always has a great sense of color and style and is not scared to express it. She understands that my one of a kind pieces are NOT just fashion, but also ART and usually can’t only buy ONE piece as she gets addicted to collecting timeless, ethereal, feminine, colorful designs that are fabulous for layering and travel!
My ideal client is a woman who is not scared to express herself and look unique. She always has a great sense of color and style and is not scared to express it. She understands that my one of a kind pieces are NOT just fashion, but also ART and usually can’t only buy ONE piece as she gets addicted to collecting timeless, ethereal, feminine, colorful designs that are fabulous for layering and travel!
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Are your pieces easy to travel with?
My pieces are KNOWN for how wonderful they travel! That’s really WHY I did start my line…they weigh nothing and rarely wrinkle!! So YES perfect for the traveling spirit.
My pieces are KNOWN for how wonderful they travel! That’s really WHY I did start my line…they weigh nothing and rarely wrinkle!! So YES perfect for the traveling spirit.
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Where do your fabrics come from and where are the caftans/dresses/shirts made?
I am proud to say all my designs are USA made! Made in New York City! The fashion capital! But most of my fabrics are Italian designer silks…anything from ETRO to PUCCI to just fabulous silk burnouts… It’s ALL about the fabric with my designs! And the quality of the fabrics!! I have to LOVE the fabric, otherwise you won’t see it in my designs. Having an Art History background, there has to be a harmony between the print and color, it has to be esthetically pleasing.
I am proud to say all my designs are USA made! Made in New York City! The fashion capital! But most of my fabrics are Italian designer silks…anything from ETRO to PUCCI to just fabulous silk burnouts… It’s ALL about the fabric with my designs! And the quality of the fabrics!! I have to LOVE the fabric, otherwise you won’t see it in my designs. Having an Art History background, there has to be a harmony between the print and color, it has to be esthetically pleasing.
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Which design is your best seller?
It’s hard to just pick ONE design as my best seller. It really depends on whether we are talking about a top or dress. Even then, picking just ONE top is hard…as people who LOVE my Bohemian Top also love my Angel Tops, or my caftan tops. For me personally, I tend to wear my kimonos the most, as it can be worn as a top, as a dress, as a beach coverup, and I just feel so feminine and special in them.
It’s hard to just pick ONE design as my best seller. It really depends on whether we are talking about a top or dress. Even then, picking just ONE top is hard…as people who LOVE my Bohemian Top also love my Angel Tops, or my caftan tops. For me personally, I tend to wear my kimonos the most, as it can be worn as a top, as a dress, as a beach coverup, and I just feel so feminine and special in them.
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Where can people buy your designs?
Currently, my designs can be bought through my boutique Caryna Nina in Palm Beach Florida, “40 Back Mercantile” in Old Greenwich, CT, any of my trunk shows, and through my website www.carynanina.com. They can also check out all my new things through my Instagram “carynanina1” and I can do send ships all over the world! I also do one on one consultations with clients for custom pieces as they can pick fabrics and be part of the creative process which I have been doing since the beginning of my line.
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More on Back 40 Mercantile
Since moving back to the area I have fallen in love with Old Greenwich, a part of town I never knew growing up here as a child. I love its small town charm mixed in with just a touch of cool nautical flare and uniqueness. We still have the same bagel shop that has been in town for decades and yet every so often a new shop enters the scene that feels just current enough to make OG a great shopping destination. Back 40 Mercantile is the newest place to open and it is not to be missed. The best way to describe it is a one-of-a-kind boutique meets general store meets artists haven. There is truly something for everyone. Head in on Tuesday for a caftan by Caryna Nina and I guarantee you will walk away with some delicious locally grown food, a gift for a friend, and something special for yourself!
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Q&A with Katrina Bischoff of Back 40 Mercantile
What is Back 40 Mercantile and what sorts of things do you sell?
The Back 40 Mercantile was a concept born from 4 the owners, myself and my husband Jeff Bischoff and Bill and Lesley King. (Jeff and Lesley are brother and sister). We wanted to provide a local place to shop that was dedicated to providing high quality merchandise that is sustainably made. We wanted all the products that we carry to represent the work of real people, and to be sourced locally where possible. We wanted to have beautiful gifts that people could buy that they felt good about…knowing that the products were made in such a way that didn’t harm the earth.
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Who runs the store and why do your talents and backgrounds dovetail so well?
I run the store with over 20 years of retail, wholesale, manufacturing and merchandising experience. I am in charge of buying home and lifestyle, including children’s clothing and toys. I am also in charge of buying women’s clothing, accessories and jewelry. Jeff has a background in the garment business, and does all the buying for men. He does not work in the store, because he runs his own search firm. He represents private wealth managers for various Wall Street firms.
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Lesley and Bill King are financial executives by training who have leaped into the organic movement full force. With their background in finance and their passion for organic farming they contribute to the mission of our store. Lesley and Bill are in charge of all the food buying. Lesley researches and tastes every food item that comes through the store. She has to approve of every item that we sell. (She is very particular about every ingredient and makes sure to research them all.)
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Between the retail and financial backgrounds of the four of us, and the fact that we all come to the table with our individual talents, we make a great team. We live in the community and care about the people we call friends.
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What is your mission and why goes it work in Old Greenwich?
I believe that our mission works in Old Greenwich because people in Old Greenwich care to purchase quality products that are not harmful to themselves, their families and the environment. I feel strongly that Old Greenwich loves to support local business owners, local artisans and healthy living.
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How do you choose the products you sell?
We choose every product very carefully. We always make sure that anything we carry in our store is something that we would buy for ourselves. It has to pass several criteria. We start by choosing a “best in class” item in each category. We research the item/s and see if we can source it in the US. If we cannot, then we buy it from a source that we trust, research and test. All the food HAS to be organic. The items that we source that are made outside the US present us with certification of factory conditions and work practices. We also support Fair Trade…therefore we carry various items for those purposes. It is important for all of us to offer a product that is not only the “best in class”, but is also aesthetically beautiful and earth friendly.
We choose every product very carefully. We always make sure that anything we carry in our store is something that we would buy for ourselves. It has to pass several criteria. We start by choosing a “best in class” item in each category. We research the item/s and see if we can source it in the US. If we cannot, then we buy it from a source that we trust, research and test. All the food HAS to be organic. The items that we source that are made outside the US present us with certification of factory conditions and work practices. We also support Fair Trade…therefore we carry various items for those purposes. It is important for all of us to offer a product that is not only the “best in class”, but is also aesthetically beautiful and earth friendly.
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Is the store for women, men children, or all?
I describe the Back 40 Mercantile as a modern twist of an old country store. Back in the day, every town had its country store. You would go there for all your needs. It was a one-stop shop for everyone in the family. We wanted to re-create that feel. In our store you will sense the spirit of the “old” mixed in with the luxury of the “new”
I describe the Back 40 Mercantile as a modern twist of an old country store. Back in the day, every town had its country store. You would go there for all your needs. It was a one-stop shop for everyone in the family. We wanted to re-create that feel. In our store you will sense the spirit of the “old” mixed in with the luxury of the “new”
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What’s with the fridge? You have fresh food every day?!?
Lesley and Bill also own a farm called the “back 40 farm”, which produces vegetables for various restaurants…including their own in Greenwich called Organic Planet. The food that we carry is all prepared food from Organic Planet. We get a fresh delivery everyday.
Lesley and Bill also own a farm called the “back 40 farm”, which produces vegetables for various restaurants…including their own in Greenwich called Organic Planet. The food that we carry is all prepared food from Organic Planet. We get a fresh delivery everyday.
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Some of the favorites are:
Back 40 Cobb
Farro, Vegetable and Goat Cheese Salad
Indian Green Lentils
Chocolate Chia Pudding
We also carry organic drinks!
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Could you share a few of your favorite occasions people can come in and shop for?
The occasions I love helping people shop for the most are birthdays and anniversaries. We have such a beautiful and unique jewelry selection as well as really fun gift ideas.
The occasions I love helping people shop for the most are birthdays and anniversaries. We have such a beautiful and unique jewelry selection as well as really fun gift ideas.
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Any exciting events coming up at the store we should know about?
We have exciting events taking place monthly. We have book signings, trunk shows and food tastings. It is best to keep up to date by going to our website back40mercantile.com and checking our calendar of events. Also, you can sign up with your email to receive exclusive invitations to our events.
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