This Month’s Featured Article

Fashionistas who are looking to stock up on fall faves should certainly shop at The Covet Collective – a Rhinebeck-based boutique that opened in April 2024. Yvette Rogers and Kerry Lee Zeff are the girl power and creative energy behind this new retail destination, which offers sustainable, ethical goods. 

For this duo, dreams really do come true. Rogers and Zeff have been thinking about opening their own shop for quite some time. “This storefront fell into our laps. We decided it was meant to be and hustled a quick renovation,” said Rogers.

Although Rogers was raised in southern California and spent her leisure time playing at the beaches, zipping through the mountains on her snowboard, and scouting out fab fashions at Hollywood thrift shops, she ended up in Portland, Oregon during her college years. After graduation, she relocated to Rhinebeck so she could attend the Bard Center for Environmental Policy.

After a career in marketing and politics, Rogers craved something new that married her passion for fashion with her interest in social conscience. Creating a retail shop that matched this vibe seemed like a perfect fit. Rogers also recognized that many of her peers were seeking a retail store that fuses style and affordability with conscience.

Rogers soon teamed up with Zeff – the owner of StarryBird Kids, Rhinebeck’s children’s shop, for this new venture. Before entering the retail sector, Zeff practiced massage therapy and other healing arts. Her unwavering commitment to making a positive impact on the lives of families in the community and beyond is rooted in her journey from healing practitioner to children’s shop owner. 

Conscious fashion

Rogers and Zeff shared a vision to establish a fashion boutique rooted in the philosophy of “shopping thoughtfully.” Says Zeff, “Our hope is that by investing in and amplifying ethically sourced, sustainable brands, we can make a positive impact on the world. Our tagline is: Shop For A Better World.”

The duo also yearned for a retail shop that catered to their upstate lifestyle. “Many of us work from home but also commute into the city at times. We need modern, timeless pieces for work, play, and every day at affordable prices. This fashion directive paired seamlessly with our ethos once we found our core brands and inspiration,” said Zeff. 

It’s always more enjoyable and rewarding to shop with sustainability in mind as well as other values that resonate with today’s modern consumer. When scrolling The Covet Collective’s website, shoppers may browse by values. The list includes made in NY, made in the USA, women owned, LGBTQ+ owned, Black owned, AAPI owned, Latina owned, sustainable, gives back, organic, eco-friendly, and certified B corporation – a designation that a business is meeting high standards of verified performance, accountability, and transparency on factors from employee benefits and charitable giving to supply chain practices and input materials. 

So far, Rogers and Zeff have been overwhelmed with the positive response The Covet Collective has received from the community and beyond. “From locals to tourists, people seem to appreciate our core values and mission along with our choice of style in clothing and accessories. Our customers love to pop in every chance they get to see what’s new that week,” said Rogers. (Side note: While window shopping, I wandered in and snapped up an Able clutch handbag. That’s how I discovered the new-ish shop.)

Unique boutique

Between the chic fashion finds and shopping by “value,” The Covet Collective certainly differs from other boutiques in the region. “Covet is passionate about amplifying purpose-driven businesses that prioritize sustainability and ethical production and believe in giving back to make a positive impact on the world,” said Zeff. That’s one point of differentiation. 

Rogers and Zeff also wanted their shop to be accessible to a wider range of people. One of their goals was for their friends and family to be able to afford to shop The Covet Collective year-round. 

The duo has curated an array of glam garments and chic home decor items. “We try to curate a little bit of everything. Clothing is our main draw. Most of the apparel comes from brands that are sustainably made. From there, we round out the lifestyle category with accessories such as shoes, jewelry, hats, and scarves plus body care and a wee bit of home products. We are also building a vintage and ‘pre-loved’ section in the back of the shop. It has been a hit since day one,” said Zeff. 

The standouts

Rogers and Zeff enjoy uncovering new brands for their customers, but they have a few core companies that their customers always stock up on and return for more. Their top-selling brand is Marine Layer, which offers “absurdly soft clothing.” 

“It is a B-corp out of California with a loyal following. People are super excited to find it at our shop because the company has very few storefronts anywhere close to us. Most people shop online and are delighted to get to touch and try on these products in person. As for styles, we cannot keep jumpsuits in stock, and the exclusive ‘Rhinebeck’ merchandise, including T-shirts, tote bags, keychains, bracelets, and stickers, always flies out the door,” said Zeff. 

Local love

One of Rogers and Zeff’s favorite parts of the shop experience is educating their customers about the products that are made with love from local makers. The collection includes serving boards from Rhinebeck woodworker Peter Wagner; linen boleros, aprons, and tableware from Clinton resident Judy Canham at Longview Linens; and greeting cards from local illustrator Rani Ban.

Another customer favorite is Northern Bourne, which is the vision of Rhinebeck local Leah Evans. “Leah uses the highest quality materials for her knots and has everything made in Brooklyn. In addition, ten percent of her profits support families in the foster care system,” said Rogers. Her knit tanks and merino sweaters always keep customers coming back.

Tess & James by Rhinebeck local, Angela Basile, is another star. The shop carries her all-natural collection of candles, aromatherapy roll-ons, and chapstick, which are all made locally.

Rhinebeck resident Caitlin Lightfoot is another local maker. She is the designer behind Lightfoot Woods jewelry collection. The artist sources her raw materials from destinations along the Hudson River and shapes them into the beautiful pieces of wearable art. The shop is currently offering three varieties of her one-of-a-kind earrings.

Fall forecast

For Autumn 2024, Rogers and Zeff are stocking up on richer fabrics. Think merino wool, denim, and leather. The product mix will include plaids and darker colors, which are always in demand for autumn.  

It is also bringing in some great cashmere from the B-corp 1People and is expanding into new brands such as Faherty. The team is also bringing back favorites such as Able and Pact. Keep a lookout for new “Rhinebeck” merchandise as the team rolls out the fall selection.

Fresh florals

The Covet Collective also boasts a mini flower stand in the shop. Fresh, locally cut blooms are supplied by Stark Blooms – a flower farm in Red Hook that is helmed by Colin Stark. Florals are replenished weekly. “Stark Blooms specializes in unusual flowers from around the world and has a cult following. People are so happy to find beautiful fresh flowers right in downtown Rhinebeck,” said Zeff. Fresh bouquets are delivered to The Covet Collective every Thursday.

Stark also provides educational programs to inspire and educate people about flower growing and arranging. Its mission is to create a sustainable flower farm that enriches the community, unites people, and connects them to nature’s beauty. Inquire within for more details on upcoming workshops. 

Etc.

Beyond the stellar product mix, the shop offers a gift-wrapping service. It also ships anywhere in the country. “We feel like we are personal shoppers for everyone that comes in. We get such a kick out of finding just the right garment for each customer,” said Rogers. 

Rogers and Zeff refer to their five employees as the “dream team.” The staff’s ages range from 18 to mid-40s. “They are just such a kind, helpful, thoughtful, intelligent lot. We are beyond grateful. That said, we are losing a few members in the fall and will be looking to add a few more perfect fits to the team,” said Zeff. 

The store’s demographic also spans a variety of ages – from preteens and teens to more mature shoppers, so regardless of your age, style, or vision for fall, stop in and check out what’s in store. •

The Covet Collective is located at 19 E Market St., Suite 2 in Rhinebeck, NY. Call (845) 516-4111, or visit online at thecovetcollective.com.