Nestled amidst the quaint streets of Northport, New York, lies a hidden gem that transcends mere commerce; it embodies a legacy of empowerment, sustainability, and cultural heritage. Welcome to Raizes, a boutique born from a vision to promote beauty through responsible choices, while preserving local traditions and empowering communities.
The story of Raizes is one of resilience and innovation, woven with threads of African and Indigenous heritage. In the remote Jalapão region of Brazil, descendants of escaped slaves formed “Quilombo” communities, united by a shared quest for independence in all its forms. It was within these tight-knit communities that the transformative potential of golden grass (syngonanthus nitens) was realized.
In the early 20th century, a visionary woman recognized the decorative allure of this humble yet radiant crop. Drawing upon the artisanal skills passed down by the Xerente peoples, Afro-Brazilian women transformed golden grass into exquisite fashion accessories and home decor. Thus, through their artistry, a tradition was upheld, economic independence was fostered, and pride was cultivated.
At Raizes, they are committed to preserving this precious heritage. Their golden grass is meticulously harvested by the women of the Quilombo communities, using sustainable practices passed down through generations. Harvesting occurs only during the brief two-month period of September and October, in accordance with Brazilian state regulations, ensuring the crop’s continuity cycle and ecological integrity.
Located at 112 Main Street in Northport, NY, Raizes stands as a beacon of ethical commerce and cultural appreciation. Every item within their boutique tells a story of resilience, craftsmanship, and community empowerment. As you step through their doors, you are not merely shopping; you are embarking on a journey of discovery, connecting with artisans across continents and embracing the rich tapestry of human heritage.
The Perfect Shop for GiftsHandmade bagsGolden Grass JewelryA peek inside RaizesHandbags at RaizesShop Raizes online
Make sure to visit Raizes, where beauty meets responsibility, tradition meets innovation, and every purchase makes a meaningful difference. Experience the magic of golden grass and immerse yourself in a world where commerce transcends transaction, enriching lives and preserving legacies for generations to come.
For more information, or to shop Raizes online, click here.
Melissa Farrell has a mission to support local business by "Going Local." As a local business owner herself, she understands the struggles entrepreneurs face when owning a business and is always trying to find ways to shine a spotlight onto them.
Melissa started Going Local Tours & Experiences back in 2020 during the pandemic in hopes to bring people back into local restaurants and shops. She created food tours in Huntington, NY that would stop at 3-4 local businesses and gave the guests the chance to meet the owner and hear the story behind the business. She soon realized how powerful storytelling is when connecting people to local businesses and created options with local store owners as well to bring them onto the tour to share their story.
Melissa wanted to expand out of Huntington to be able to support even more local businesses and started creating luxury picnics where she would bring local to you! She would find local businesses in the area of the picnic set up and deliver it to you offering ways to support over 3 local businesses at each picnic.
This wasn't enough. She wanted to find a better way to help spread awareness of local businesses and share their stories. Enter Evangeline Knell...a woman with over 30 years of broadcasting experience who somehow convinced Melissa to host a 3 day live stream from the Huntington Fall Festival. She had never been on camera before, but working alongside Evie to create the 3 shows, gave Melissa the confidence to take on the challenge.
The 3 shows produced focused on the local vendors, the food trucks and the events that occurred at the festival and had a much larger reach than Melissa could ever of done on her own. They soon realized a business partnership was needed and combined their two businesses, Identity Digital which is a production company and Going Local Tours and Experiences to form Going Local Media.
Evie and Melissa even formed their own distribution outlet by creating Going Local TV, a streaming platform like Netflix or YouTube, that is all about local businesses, events and organizations on Long Island. There are over 200 videos including their podcast series "Let's Get Local" "Long Island Business Minds" and "Local Business Spotlight" that help spread awareness of our local businesses and Long Island Professionals.
They are always thinking up new ways to support local, including this site, Going Local Long Island is a directory of articles on how to Go Local on Long Island. We appreciate you taking the time to read this and for supporting local! Thank you!
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