Latest news with #Matouk
New York Post
22-05-2025
- Entertainment
- New York Post
Colony Hotel founders bring Palm Beach posh to East Hampton's Hedges Inn
Despite having only 13 rooms, the historic Hedges Inn — which sits at the entrance to East Hampton village and across from its idyllic pond — has made oversized headlines in the last year. Scott Sartiano, the man behind celebrity-packed private club Zero Bond, leased the inn last summer in the hopes of launching a spinoff club. He was met with insurmountable resistance by village officials and residents, who feared a nightlife vibe and its accompanying noise and traffic. After a flurry of opposition, his lease was not renewed. Now the bed-and-breakfast's new owners, Sarah and Andrew Wetenhall, have been welcomed with open arms. It doesn't hurt that the Wetenhalls had a home in East Hampton for 15 years (until 2021) and also transformed The Colony Hotel into a buzzy Palm Beach destination where vacationing New Yorkers and locals alike flock to its poolside restaurant Swifty's and its rousing trivia and bingo nights. Advertisement 3 The Hedges Inn in East Hampton will have a 'summer Americana' aesthetic. Susan Kaufman The couple brought many of those same elements to the Hedges when it opened last week — along with the whimsical design that's been part of The Colony's lure. 'There is a style that thrives with destinations close to the sea,'' Sarah tells Alexa. 'We want the Hedges to become the best version of herself, and a visual representation of East Hampton, the way The Colony is a visual representation of Palm Beach. It will have the summer Americana aesthetic that's so well loved.'' That means shake shingles; lots of red, white and blue; plus plenty of pops of The Colony's famed pink. The inn's ground floor was already renovated by the previous owners, and the rooms will be refreshed this year, with a larger overhaul planned after the summer season. Advertisement 'Andrew and I love to travel, but we also love the creature comforts of home,'' Sarah explains. To this end, they are adding Matouk sheets, towels and robes along with luxury amenities. 'We are all about creating a fun summer, and we will do so with a smile on our face and kindness in our time,'' she says. As at The Colony, they will offer their Instagram-famous branded bicycles with baskets and route maps, along with buggies that transport guests, chairs, umbrellas and coolers to the beach. 'They make us visually who we are.' The inn, first established in 1873, will now have a 24-hour full-service desk, valet parking, butler service, a provisions bar with complimentary drinks and snacks, curated itineraries and a concierge-by-text service — nicknamed Ahab, after East Hampton artist Jackson Pollock's poodle. In addition to hotel rooms, there will be a three-bedroom, stand-alone residence next door to the property, ideal for extended stays. 3 Sarah (left) and Andrew Wetenhall are updating East Hampton's Hedges Inn with stylish renovations, design refreshes and luxe brand partnerships. Capehart Advertisement 'We can offer a bespoke, customized experience, and we are really excited about reimagining hospitality on the East End,' Sarah says. Guests can indulge in intimate bonfire gatherings (complete with s'mores) as well as Wednesday evening conversations with guest lecturers. The Wetenhalls are known for bringing in designers, beauty brands and famed fitness instructors (including Tracy Anderson and Isaac Boots) for collaborations. 'We do love our partnerships; they round out the guest experience,'' she notes. At the Hedges, those collabs will include Naturopathica spa services, Volvo electric EX 90 cars for tooling around the village and a house car for local rides in the form of a vintage pink Land Rover Defender. 3 Cuisine from Robert Caravaggi's latest Swifty's outpost at the hotel. Glen Alsop Advertisement But the most pivotal partnership remains with Swifty's (originally a New York eatery before being resurrected under founder Robert Caravaggi at The Colony). The restaurant has taken over the 100-seat indoor-outdoor dining space that housed Sartiano's last summer, serving breakfast, lunch and dinner, including its signature meatloaf and crab cakes, along with farm-to-table local fare. Trivia will reappear as well, but sadly, those uberpopular bingo nights won't make the journey north. 'The New York State gambling laws will not allow it,'' Sarah sighs. Rooms from $599 in May and from $1,499 from Memorial Day weekend on at The Hedges East Hampton
Boston Globe
22-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
To avert manufacturing crisis, Trump may have to ditch his tariff plan
But less than 100 days into Trump's second term, manufacturers across the country now fear that the president's tariffs could actually make their economic realities worse — and understandably so. If Trump is going to avert a financial crisis for many of the manufacturers and their employees who sent him back to Washington, he may have to abort his tariff plan — and soon. Advertisement Growing anxiety about job cuts is not irrational, given the expected rise in costs following Trump's ongoing trade war. Thousands of Massachusetts residents go to work each day in factories on the state's South Coast, making products that include materials that come from abroad. One such manufacturer, Advertisement 'These universal and reciprocal tariffs, which are supposed to provide [an] incentive for manufacturing investment in the United States, are actually damaging manufacturers more than helping them,' Matouk 'We're talking about millions of dollars that the government is now going to be taxing us every year on materials that we require for manufacturing, job creation,' he added. But even before Trump announced his widely criticized tariff plan, the job market for Massachusetts residents was looking less promising than some desired. The state's total unemployment rate for March was slightly Trump announcing a minimum 10 percent tariff on all US imports earlier this month — on a day he christened 'Liberation Day' — only exacerbated fears among manufacturers and their employees. A plan the president was attempting to celebrate instead induced dread among those within the manufacturing industry, as the reality set in that these changes could lead to both more expensive items and fewer jobs. The 'Sentiment has now lost more than 30% since December 2024 amid growing worries about trade war developments that have oscillated over the course of the year,' Surveys of Consumers director Joanne Hsu Advertisement Administration officials attempted to quickly make some adjustments in response to criticism of his plan from both opponents and supporters. The president's team walked back some tariffs for a number of countries after economists at the American Enterprise Institute, one of the country's foremost conservative think tanks, pointed out a mathematical error in the formula the administration used to calculate tariffs. 'If we are going to pretend that it is a sound basis for US trade policy,' the economists And pro-Trump manufacturers should be allowed to expect that a president who pledged to strengthen manufacturing would make decisions that wouldn't actually worsen outcomes for their companies. But by the looks of it, the increased employment opportunities that voters were promised are on track to be much farther off than expected. Or at worst, may never come.
Boston Globe
15-04-2025
- Business
- Boston Globe
Uncertainty over tariffs is causing chaos for some Massachusetts manufacturers
'This is a very frustrating thing as a manufacturer,' said Advertisement At Matouk, an employee worked with an embroidery machine made in Germany. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff On a recent afternoon at Matouk's factory in Fall River, Cairo towels were being embroidered with designs by a machine from Germany, after which they are stitched and packaged for sale to customers across the country. The company employs about 280 people. It sells its products to retailers, such as Bloomingdale's, boutique hotels, and has a store in New York City. Advertisement The cotton in the towels is from Egypt, where it's turned into yarn. Next, it moves to Portugal, where it is woven into terry cloths and dyed in colors of the company's choice and then transported by sea to the United States. The Cairo towels are just one line of products from Matouk. The tariff regime proposed and then paused in part by Trump would affect goods the company makes at its Fall River factory, which account for 45 percent of its total sales. CEO George Matouk runs a nearly century-old luxury linen manufacturer based in Fall River. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff A worker on a sewing machine at the Matouk factory. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff 'We're talking about millions of dollars that the government is now going to be taxing us every year on materials that we require for manufacturing, job creation. And these materials are not available in the United States, and my opinion is that they never will be, no matter how long these tariffs are in place,' Matouk said. Last week, Trump At Blount Fine Foods, the company sources most of its fresh food ingredients in the United States. However, it imports broccoli from Mexico and Guatemala. Advertisement When the Trump administration said it would Blount said that at the moment, Mexican broccoli was not subject to tariffs under the United States-Mexico-Canada Agreement, which Trump negotiated during his first term, while the broccoli from Guatemala would be. The company also imports equipment from Europe to automate some of its packaging and cooking. But the lack of clarity on whether the tariffs will, in fact, come into full effect has made it tough to budget for their cost. 'Our budget hasn't changed. So, worst case, we'll buy a little less equipment or delay a purchase until the following year,' Blount said. 'The uncertainty is almost as bad as the problem itself.' A worker stood with a kettle manufactured in the United Kingdom at a Blount Fine Foods facility in Fall River. David L. Ryan/Globe Staff The speed with which US trade policies have shifted over the last two months may have caught some manufacturers, such as those in southern Massachusetts, flat-footed, economists said, and they now have to scramble to adjust to the new reality. 'They're either going to have to devote lots of resources to try to figure out new suppliers in countries with lower tariffs, compete with other domestic producers for access to domestic producers of those inputs — which don't necessarily exist — or make painful decisions about what product lines to keep up,' said For Advertisement 'We've been trying to plan and make some sort of supply chain decisions and it's just been nearly chaotic and very difficult to understand,' Surprenant said. Surprenant's company has 75 employees, and he has struggled to decide whether to raise prices. His biggest fear is that costs will suddenly go up, which could put pressure on the company's cash position. 'Ultimately, you never want to be losing money and not knowing it,' he said. 'It's just very difficult to plan.' Surprenant said he takes pride in being a manufacturer in New Bedford, a city with a long, proud industrial history. He also said tariffs could help a company like his compete with cheaper Chinese alternatives. But he is skeptical the Trump administration's trade policies will prove to be a catalyst for a new era of manufacturing in places like southern Massachusetts. 'I feel like they're rolling the dice on that because it's never really worked in any country if you go back 250 years and study where it's been done,' he said. 'Maybe I'll be wrong in five years and become a protectionist,' Surprenant said. 'But we've just never seen it work, so I am very nervous about that side of it.' Omar Mohammed can be reached at
Forbes
12-04-2025
- Entertainment
- Forbes
Mother's Day 2025: The Coolest One-Of-A-Kind Gifts
A hand-carved cameo of a beloved Husky, set into a ring. When asked about their ideal gift, many mothers will reply 'you are gift enough.' Great answer, but not totally buying it. It's in our nature to want to recognize Mom (or a Mom figure) with a gift that will wow, and the definition of 'wow' will morph over time. As kids it may be breakfast in bed or a drawing or other hand-made item, which later turns into a really nice dinner out, and even later becomes treasures packaged in boxes in specific shades of blue or orange. What could top that? Something created specifically for her that is truly one of a kind. Here are eight options to consider. All will take time, effort and patience. None will be ready in time for Mother's Day next month, but you can present her with a hand-drawn 'certificate' of what's to come. Just like you did as a kid. A custom cameo by Amedeo. Amedeo Scognamiglio is the sixth generation of a renowned cameo-carving family, founded in 1857 by his great-great-great grandfather in Torre del Greco, Italy. While his family still produces classic cameos, Amedeo's incorporate more modern motifs and contemporary jewelry styles. His 'Create Your Own' program offers the opportunity to have a cameo created in the likeness of yourself, a family member, a cherished pet or (almost) anything else. After a consultation to discuss a client's vision, including portrait references, motifs and/or themes, Amedeo's team will create a sketch for approval. Once approved, the image is hand-carved by artisans in Italy in a process that can take several weeks. Finally, the finished cameo is set into a jewelry design, whether a ring, pendant, brooch, bracelet or even a baseball cap, and delivered to the lucky recipient. Price upon request. Matouk's bespoke bedding program allows clients to choose a fabric, finish and add-ons like appliques or embroidery. Sweet dreams are made of Matouk linens, created to your specifications. The age-old company's customization program allows clients to choose from one of 100 existing fabrics, each available in anywhere from three to twelve colors, to make pretty much anything in the bedlinen (or table linen) category. There's a caveat, however: this is best done through an interior designer or by personally visiting the House of Matouk in New York City, as being able to touch and feel fabrics and see finishing options in real life greatly helps decision making. In addition to a library of fabrics, the company also boasts a large archive of applique and embroidery designs, as well as an impressive assortment of designs and fonts for monograms, with the ability to replicate an existing design. The process generally takes six to eight weeks from the approval of a design. Louis Vuitton offers a bespoke fragrance service. For a Mom into luxury goods and perfume, a unique fragrance created by a legedary nose for an equally legendary house is a win-win. Said nose is master perfumer Jacques Cavallier Belletrud, the house is Louis Vuitton, and this service might be their best-kept secret. The 'Made-to-Measure fragrance experience on the French Riviera,' begins with an overnight stay at Les Fontaines Parfumées and dinner with the master perfumer himself. During Mom's time here, she'll work with him to create an 'olfactory portrait,' based on her perfume habits, tastes, lifestyle and even memories. From there, the master perfumer draws from his extensive knowledge and experience to develop several formulas in his atelier; samples are sent to Mom and a back-and-forth may ensue over the course of a year. The end result — four 100ml bottles, three 200ml bottles, a 100ml travel case, a travel spray and 16 refills — is delivered in a trunk that was hand-crafted in Louis Vuitton's Asnières workshops. Mom's exclusive formula will forever be archived at Les Fontaines Parfumées, making refills a breeze. Price upon request, Louis Cotton Candy Swirl surfboard by Proctor Surf Todd Proctor of Proctor Surf has been shaping surfboards for over three decades. The California native, whose shop is in Ventura, shaped his first boards in a shed in his grandfather's back yard in 1991 and started his own label the next year. Proctor specializes in custom boards, which he crafts for every experience level and wave types all over the world. He'll speak directly with Mom to discuss her surfing journey, body mechanics, goals and wave type, and advise her on the best board to suit her needs. Further customization comes in the artful finishes, whether resin art and sprays by Todd himself to standard airbrushes, and even one of Mom's photos, digital art, or paintings (they print those on special material and laminate into the boards). Lead time ranges from 8 – 12 weeks. Prices vary greatly so it's best to contact the shop for an estimate. A cameo portrait by artist Doug Meyer Doug Meyer is a Hudson Valley, New York-based artist and designer who broke the internet when he started posting cameo portraits he created — colorful, multi-dimensional profiles, adorned with semi-precious stones, agates, crystals, abalone, colored plexi-glass and even pieces of mirror. They created a big of a frenzy, garnered a lot of media attention, and commissions galore. Meyer works from photography provided by the client (or taken by him, if the meeting happens in New York City, which he prefers). He'll ask about colors they like, or don't, and then gets to work hand crafting their cameo using a proprietary technique that he spent three years developing. The result is a 24-inch round colorful creation, a one-of-a-kind art piece and future heirloom. From $6,000. Inquiries: dougmeyerstudio@ Sterling Silver cutlery by Heath Wagoner Heath Wagoner went to school to be a painter, but took a small metals course and fell in love. We now reap the benefits of his pivot in the form of beautiful barware, cutlery and objets that he crafts in his Brooklyn studio. There are plenty of exceedingly gift-able pieces — cocktail picks, an egg set, a bolo tie — but the ultimate luxury is undoubtedly a set of custom designed and crafted cutlery (the pieces shown above were inspired by the flatware of Alexander Calder). The process begins as all the aforementioned do, with a meeting to learn as much as possible about a client's preferences, which could include an excursion (if in New York City) to see silver tableware currently offered at luxury retailers or showrooms, as well as a mini history lesson on the category. Some clients have family pieces they love, don't love, or want refabricated or reinvented. Others want their own design. Wagoner creates watercolor sketches, then samples in silver-plated brass, and the final product in sterling silver. Production begins upon approval of samples, and timing varies depending on how many pieces are ordered. Smythson In today's digital age, a hand-written note stands out more than ever before. And as with almost every other category of product, there are varying levels of quality. Search Etsy and you'll find a plethora of companies providing perfectly fine 'ready-to-wear' personalized notecards and the like. Couture is a completely different story, and there are just a few purveyors. Smythson, a company founded over 130 years that holds multiple Royal Warrants, is one of them. Their specialty is engraved stationery, meaning a copper plate, engraved with client's details, is used for printing (and the letters are visibly raised). There are a variety of fonts and lettering styles to choose from, as well as colors. The piece de resistance is the envelope, which is fully lined in tissue that, naturally, matches the color used on the notecard. (Worth noting: while Smythson can duplicate your monogram, they don't offer bespoke monogram design. If you'd like to commission one for Mom, read this post about one of the best in the business). Private Label Private Label is a London and Dubai-based company that customizes luxury timepieces for the 1%. This can range from the simple (changing the color of a dial) to ceramic coating in a custom color (see the pink Audemars Piguet below) to completely encrusting watches in stones, as they did with the Rolex, above (those are orange and red sapphires on the dial, case and bracelet). Private Label There' the option to buy a timepiece they've already customized (they are experts at sourcing even the most rare models), or having them work their magic on a watch Mom already owns. Pieces take anywhere from 2 – 8 weeks to customize. Some excellent examples are on their Instagram; info and inquiries at
