Greentique Provides Fun Products By Environmentally Progressive Artisans

While most businesses continue to gradually stock their store shelves with a basic selection of eco-friendly products, remains one of the few destinations on Long Island where 100 percent of their products are made strictly from recycled materials.

For the past year, Jenn Fondacaro has enjoyed being the main proprietor of Greentique, conveniently located on . Fondacaro, a resident of St. James, started out by selling eco friendly goods at local craft fairs, home parties and hospital lobbies. As her collection of products started to expand, she decided to take the daring step of opening a store in Huntington village. After a year and a half, Fondacaro relocated to a more ideal location closer to home that thrives with enviornmentally progressive artists and customers.

Greentique carries everything from personal products to household items, to decorative art and accessories. What makes Greentique stand out from similar themed boutiques, is that a majority of  their biggest sellers are made by artisans that are both living and actively involved in the Port Jefferson community.

A local high school student makes one of Greentique’s best selling items–brightly colored bracelets made from recycled soda toppers known as “Sammi’s Bracelets.”

Stephanie Calinoff of Smithtown displays her eye catching glass jewelry throughout the store as well.

Another popular item is made by a Terryville Elementary School student named Kaitlin, who with her grandfather’s help creates hanging fish mobiles made from recycled two liter soda bottles. Kaitlin starts by first cleaning the soda bottles and her grandfather “fillets” them with a knife so that she can paint them from the inside. Kaitlin then adds the eyes and fins to the plastic, staples the fish together and strings them on to a fishing line.

“Kaitlin’s Fish” can be seen adorning the front store overhang during the summer season, along with a variety of bright, personalized wooden signs, which are also hand made by other local artists who make appearances during the holiday weekends.

Greentique also carries green friendly items from all over the United States as well as several countries overseas. Boris Bally, a metalist from Providence, Rhode Island, turns discarded street signs into sturdy coffee tables. Trendy handbags made from recycled materials such as seat belts, magazines, natural bamboo and sea grass arrive from Minnesota and even as far off as Cambodia. 

Amongst the many crowd-pleasing items are bracelets that can be filled with sand and everyday drinking glasses made from recycled beer bottles. Two of the more quirky and popular items available include the Tree of Life glass orbs and Bambu–a washable and adjustable bowl made from cork fabric that never creases.

Fondacaro continues to attend many annual expos like the one held in The Javits Center in New York City where hundreds of green friendly vendors exhibit one of a kind green products.

Because of her strong relationships with the vendors, Fondacaro is able to assist customers in ordering additional items in specific patterns or themes that are available, yet might not be currently featured on the shelf. This includes such items as various sized magazine handbags featuring their favorite celebrities or popular designs.

Whether you are looking for a wallet made from recycled subway maps to household cleaning products or even a simple thought gift, Greentique is sure to please both veteran and new environmentally conscious shoppers.