Six Picks: Kostas Anagnopoulos of Pidgin
Merchant and Poet, Kostas Anagnopoulos was raised on the West Side of Chicago in his mother’s seamstress shop, while his father worked as editor of a Greek-American leftist newspaper. In 2020 he opened Pidgin, a much-loved destination shop in the rural hamlet of Oak Hill, New York, specializing in antiques as well as artisanal objects, textiles, and clothing. In addition to his lifelong love of “pairing things with people,” Kostas has published a number of books of poetry, volunteers as an end-of-life doula, and serves on the board of directors of his local library in Rensselaerville, New York. These days, he splits his time between upstate New York and Jackson Heights, Queens, with his husband, daughter, and their dog, Tiger. Read on to see Kostas’ lovely picks from Shoppe Online.
What kind of products/objects are you most drawn to right now?
I’m drawn to things that were made with great care and thought, and that have longevity.
What is the best purchase you’ve made for yourself this year?
I’m in love with the dental floss I bought at Officine Universelle Buly in Paris. You can replenish and reuse the aluminum container, and I’m sure it’s based on an old design. Because of it, my dentist will be happy to know that I’m flossing much more frequently. It makes flossing such a nicer experience than the disposable plastic ones.
Name an item that you can’t seem to keep in stock!
The bread baskets by Intiearth. So simple, so beautiful, so tactile and useful. My customers love them.
What’s your personal go to for retail therapy?
Three Lives Books in the West Village of New York City. It’s like a storybook version of a bookstore, and their assortment of current books is perfect and one that always surprises me – not just the old New York Times best sellers. It’s also the cleanest bookstore I’ve ever been in! Not a speck of dust. And I like the lighting, which is very important, and of course the magical location. It’s in Manhattan, but intimate, with small town energy.
Favorite Shoppe Online brand discovery?
Autumn Sonata. A brand new line of towels made in Turkey, with beautiful designs. I’m excited to see how this one develops.
Kostas’ PICKS
ARTBOOK D.A.P.
Ralph Ellison: Photographer
“I adore books. I own too many with not enough places to put them. Occasionally I purge things, but never books. It’s a vice I allow myself; there are worse vices. I buy books for the store that I think would be hard for someone to part with, books as reference, and that inspire. This book of photography, by the writer Ralph Ellison, who gave us the seminal Invisible Man, excites me. I didn’t know Ellison was also a photographer. Icing on the cake that the subject of the work in this book are domestic scenes and my beloved city, New York. ”
8.6.4
Nylon Weekender
“8.6.4 is best known for their jewelry, but I love this weekender. I’m a sucker for an oversize bag that can fold up into something tiny, and this one fits in my pocket. The fabric is a thin, light and durable nylon with a rib stop square pattern like old camping gear. You can carry it on the subway, on an airplane, or like I do at flea markets and trade shows. They have other styles but this one suits me. It goes over the shoulder and has a zipper with two little pockets as well. You can throw it in the wash, and it’s nice that it’s made domestically.”
MATER SOAP
Pine Tar Bar
“This is a lovely company, and their soaps are handmade in New York with only natural ingredients. I’m not sure why but I’m crazy for the medicinal earthiness of pine tar. It reminds me of the smell of old European apothecary stores.”
THOMAS O’BRIEN
Modern Square Mortar & Pestle
“Thomas O’Brien is a master of the modern-traditional aesthetic. When I was a much younger man I would visit the original Spring Street location of his shop, AERO, and daydream about one day living with such wonderful things. I appreciate the lines of this mortar and pestle, its substantial weight, and the dappled stone that it’s made from. The shape reminds me of Machu Picchu.”
NISHIGUCHI KUTSUSHITA
Silk Ribbed High Socks
“Many of the things in my store are one-of-a-kind or laboriously made, so they tend to be on the pricey side. For contrast, I like to have some affordable, lovingly made staples as a little pick me up, and I am especially drawn to knee high socks right now. Both of my grandmothers in Greece wore them, and I think they’re terribly chic. Nishiguchi Kutsushita makes some very nice socks that always sell well at Pidgin.”
Azulina Home
Fique Mat
“This mat was a new discovery for me at the show this past February. It can be used as a doormat or a bath mat, it’s hand-crocheted, and it has a nice, spongy quality and a great drape. I love the tan color, and the all-natural material will decompose back into the earth when it’s time to get a new one. They’re made in a variety of other colors for those that prefer a bit of punch.”
