Black Parrot
We started our road trip by driving to the upper reaches of the Northeast in Portland, Maine. Situated between dense forest and a spectacular rugged coast, Portland is a picturesque town whose cobblestone streets and historic architecture reveal its former significance as Maine’s preeminent port.
Here we visited Kate Smith, who is the co-owner (along with Sherrie Gibson) of an outstanding pair of boutiques called Black Parrot. Having met them earlier this year at the Rendez-Vous Tradeshow in New York, we were already intrigued by the unusual mix of pieces they selected from our showroom. Our visit helped us learn that while their relaxed aesthetic is partly shaped by Maine’s regional character, their instincts for introducing new and emerging designers to Portland reveals a testing ground whose relevance goes beyond this little enclave.
