Amy in Hamptons Magazine Article

August 31st, 2011

Gail Force
Boutique owner Gail Rothwell and an inspiring jewelry designer making her East Coast debut collaborate for a town-wide “shop for the cause” benefit in East Hampton.
As the curator of the only East End store to carry Marni, Lanvin and Rick Owens, Gail Rothwell is highly regarded for her sense of style. Inspired by the success of Fashion’s Night Out, she set out to re-create the annual event in the Hamptons to benefit the Retreat, the Hamptons’ only women’s shelter that provides safety, support and housing to victims of domestic abuse. East Hampton Shop at Sunset will take place on August 17 from 5-8 PM, with many Newtown Lane and Main Street boutiques offering a portion of the evening’s sales to the charity. “When fashion retail reaches out to nonprofits in their communities, it is a natural synergy, “ says Rothwell. “I believe this event will pull our community together and that our success will be that we extend this event next year and include all the towns.” East Hampton Shop at Sunset was codeveloped by Rothwell when she met with board members from The Retreat and later visited the facility. “[I was] overcome by the experience,” she says of her trip. “Children playing, women gathering together and cooking…everyone was safe and happy.” Rothwell’s collaborator for the evening is jewelry designer Amy Conway, who will be making her East Coast debut at a trunk show at Rothwell’s boutique the night of the event. Conway has continuously transitioned careers over the years-from acupuncturist to painter and poet, to jewelry designer and philanthropist-but has consistently remained loyal to one thing: sending out her personal messages of love. To further this mission, she established a charitable foundation, Love Truly Matters, using the proceeds from her sales to fund nonprofits that aid impoverished young women and girls around the world. In her collection, Conway uses vibrant colors inspired by her travels across the globe and, in particular, by the surroundings and history of Santa Fe. Her detailed floral designs-which include daisies, marigolds and roses and are fashioned of sterling silver and semiprecious stones such as amethyst, blue topaz, citrine and garnet-each carry an inscription from one of her poems motivated by experiences healing women as an acupuncturist. As a poet, she was inspired by the empowerment of the women she treated and would often incorporate her words into her paintings; as a jewelry designer, her paintings dictate her designs. “One thing women love about my jewelry is the message behind the brand,” says Conway. “My pieces are not just beautiful but meaningful.” Gail Rothwell, 66 Newtown Lane, East Hampton, 324-6666; amyconway.com-Additional Reporting by Amanda Weiner and Chelsea Burcz