“Tanglewool actually started as a yarn shop down the street,†explained Tanglewool owner, Aline Sosne.
You’d never know it to look in the trendy boutique’s window today. Instead of displaying locally made knit samples, the shop is filled with imported colorful cardigans, cozy sweater-coats, chunky wool pullovers. Instead of racks lined with bulky spools of yarn, tables are covered with purses, gloves, scarves, French perfumes, and scented soaps. There’s even a central display table showing off stylish Italian footwear and a section of alluring lingerie.
Tanglewool opened in 1981 as Sosne’s first retail venture. Sosne had no retail background to speak of: her background is in art history and visual arts. “But I think this,†she said with a broad gesture at the clothing racks around us, “is a form of visual art.†Sosne added, “Some people come in and don’t buy anything but say they love looking at the things in the shop — I think that’s great.â€
About eight years ago, she opened a second branch of her business in Great Barrington. However, after only four years, she decided to close that branch so that she could focus on her current shop located on Walker Street in Lenox.
“I started out selling yarn but people kept wanting to purchase my samples,†stated Sosne. “I would do home delivery of yarn and have samples made. But sometimes they’d come back smelling like cigarette smoke or cooking — yarn soaks up smells — but people still kept wanting to buy the samples.â€
Sosne then began travelling to Europe and purchasing sweaters from specific sweater designers. Over time, and “because this is a female industry,†she went on to include jewelry, shoes, accessories, and varied clothing styles in her displays.
In the tradition of her original yarn store, Sosne still hand-picks everything she sells herself. Tanglewool carries an extensive variety of Italian fine knitwear, suedes, leathers, and footwear. They offer clothing and accessories from well-known designers around the world — England, Scotland, France, the Netherlands, and Japan — such as Manolo Blahnik, Issey Miyaki, and Eskandar. Interestingly enough, Tanglewool does not carry any items by American designers.
While most people may feel that selling sweaters would limit a shop seasonally, Sosne disagrees. “Fall is a lot more interesting for fabrics. Not just with the wools, but with leathers and tweeds. The textures are great, and the colors bolder. But we do well in spring and summer too with light, summer-weight cashmeres. And of course we do very well in winter. A lot goes on in the winter in the area — off-season has become stronger over the years. Also, I change my clothing lines a lot; I think it keeps things interesting.â€
Sosne also feels that with the advent of more and more people owning second homes in the Berkshires, Tanglewool has seen a lot more repeat customers than it ever has in the past. “We get a lot of people coming back from Connecticut, New York State, Boston, even Manhattan. One of the greatest pleasures of being a retailer in the Berkshires is that it’s great to see people again and again through the seasons; to see their children grow up. A women’s clothing shop is a very intimate place. A lot of female bonding goes on. Boutiques aren’t like big department stores in that we really try to help people and offer the best service.†Sosne pointed out a comfortable looking couch at the front of the shop: “We call that ‘the man’s couch’ and I’m sure husbands and boyfriends do their own bonding there too.â€
The Tanglewool staff agreed: “We talk about everything from fashion to current events — it can get very political in here — we’re like therapistsâ€; â€we have a customer that says we’re her first stop when she gets into townâ€; “another customer comes in every year to buy three sweaters.â€
“I stopped selling yarn about eight years ago.†Sosne admitted though that “it’s something that just evolved into more, but sweaters are still a big focus of my business, because, well, yarn is my thing.â€
Tanglewool is open seven days a week, year-round and is located at 28 Walker St. in Lenox; phone, 637-0900.
If you would like to contribute information on this article, contact us at info@iberkshires.com.
Your Comments
iBerkshires.com welcomes critical, respectful dialogue. Name-calling, personal attacks, libel, slander or foul language is not allowed. All comments are reviewed before posting and will be deleted or edited as necessary.
No Comments
North Adams Worked the Weekend Fixing Water Line Breaks
Staff Reports iBerkshires
NORTH ADAMS, Mass. — The Water Department and Department of Public Works have been responding since Friday to multiple water line breaks throughout the city that are causing temporary loss of water in some areas.
"Everyone has water or very low pressure," said Mayor Jennifer Macksey, as of Sunday evening. "We're asking people to just conserve as much as they can. Once the system gets in balance, everything will come back, but we've got to fix them."
The first break occurred Friday in the field behind the water filtration plant, which was difficult to access. That repair was completed on Sunday morning.
"Then we started at 3:30 this morning on American Legion Drive," she said. "We dad to wait a few hours for Dig Safe, which slowed us down, and they're still over there, still trying to make the repair.
"Then about, probably, I would say, eight o'clock [Sunday morning]. We were called to Carr Hardware, where we had another bubble, another break. I don't know if we'll get to that break tonight. The guys are very tired, it's cold, it's unsafe."
Crews have been working in frigid temperatures trying to find where the lines are broken and fix them. The loss of the main line caused a drop in pressure, and the pressure changes are causing more breaks.
Commissioner of Public Services Timothy Lescarbeau was able to assess and get the first break fixed, she said, "but now it's regulating the system and that, coupled with the cold weather, is working against us tonight, but the team has been great.
The Water Department has been responding to multiple water line breaks throughout the city since Friday, causing temporary loss of water in some areas. click for more
Nearly a year of study and community input about the deteriorating Veterans Memorial Bridge has resulted in one recommendation: Take it down. click for more
The new thrift and consignment shop on Marshall Street is a little bit "Punky" with an eclectic mix of shiny, vintage and eccentric curated items. click for more
Federal pandemic funds made available during the Biden administration were critical to ensuring the continuation of Berkshire East, a major employer in the hilltowns. click for more
