Nankeen's Array of Textiles and Fabrics Moves Across the Street

One step inside , recently relocated to 3848 Main Road at Four Corners (former home of Amy Lund’s and before that, Stone Bridge Dishes), suggests that it is much more than a store. 

Two large sun-lit rooms, and a smaller central space, all with shining wide-board wood floors, display a variety of one-of-a-kind items made from 100 percent cotton, indigo-dyed fabric. Every size of bag from small purses to large totes, along with belts, pillows, and even shirts with brightly patterned cuffs, decorate each room. The varied shades of blue on white sport a sometimes somber, and other times whimsical, entourage of animals and fish, rope swirls, flowers and butterflies, stripes, unicorns, and horses and carriages.  

“Our aim is to create museum quality items,” says co-founder and owner Anne Page. “We fell in love with the unique process used and are trying to preserve it.”

Begun as an online business five years ago, Page refers to the Four Corners location as the “flagship store,” but adds that Nankeen products are also available at the Museum of Fine Arts Gift Shop in Boston and at places such as Simon Pierce. 

“What we really want is to keep our items special,” she added, who notes that her son is currently living in China working together with Chinese artisans who create the textiles using a complex paste-resist technique.

A former interior designer, Page, together with her son, Jonathan Solomon, design each of the pieces which are sewn from the textiles created in China, where the 3,000-year-old printing process is still practiced by local artisans, she says.

At the Four Corners location, store manager Melissa Deus, provides a more detailed explanation, pointing to oversized photographs taken in China where the textiles are produced. First, she explains, a stencil must be created. The stencil is then placed on the fabric and paste is applied. The fabric is dipped in indigo dye baths with only the unpasted portions accepting the dye.

“It is considered art,” says Deus. “I guess I’d have to say the best thing about us is that we bring in a ancient art form. We use something old and turn it into a new product.” 

She also notes that because Nankeen is located in an “artisans’ district” and offers a one-of-a-kind product, everything purchased at the store is tax free.

diagonally across the street from the current location. Deus added that Nankeen is not a brand new business at Four Corners, but the new location offers much more visibility. For nearly three years, Nankeen was located in the basement level of Gallery 4

“We were sort of hidden over there,” she said, “and people assumed we were part of the gallery. This is a much better spot.”

Kat Quigley, who has begun her second season at Nankeen, is also excited about the new location. On break from her college studies in Colorado, she believes she has the best summer job she can imagine.  She also loves all things Nankeen.

“When you wear a Nankeen bag,” Quigley says, “you really do get stopped and people ask where you got it. And when I say Nankeen, they say, ‘Oh Nankeen!’”

“It’s true,” agrees Deus. “People do recognize us.”