Profile

In 2003, Suewayne Brown returned from a stint in West Africa with a desire to be a retail buyer. Frustrated by her job search, she decided to open her own boutique instead. Brown stopped by a realty office in her Prospect Heights neighborhood to get the process started, only to have the broker offer her the space in which they were standing. Thus, Redberi was born. The proprietress stocked the store by soliciting young designers at art schools and online, and by approaching international vendors. Eventually, she opened the sleek Blueberi in DUMBO. Whereas Redberi is a fairly casual store, focusing on midrange pieces, lots of denim, and T-shirts, Blueberi provides looks that appeal to DUMBO residents’ arty backbone—as well as their gentrified yuppie pocketbooks. Brown curates a collection of new, vintage, and reconstructed vintage clothing, jewelry, shoes, bags, and accessories by different designers every season; there’s a light, gauzy, feminine look about some of it; a more architectural, deconstructed look to others; and a healthy dose of Victoriana and neo-Goth thrown in for good measure. The owner also loves decorating her shop with antique furniture and lighting fixtures, but she’s not wed to any of it: Everything in the store is for sale. — Andrew Sessa

Fall items go on sale in January, spring items in late summer. Redberi has weekly specials as well.