Island Company, launched in 2002 by Spencer Antle, is a resort apparel and swimwear manufacturer and retailer headquartered in West Palm Beach, FL. Island Company is currently carried by hundreds of 5 star resorts, as well as six freestanding retail locations in Palm Beach, Naples, Nantucket, Martha’s Vineyard, Grand Cayman and East Hampton.

Like the five other locations; the East Hampton store is designed and merchandised to translate Island Company’s motto, “Escape. Travel. Live.” into a complete lifestyle experience. The decor of each store echoes an exotic and upscale mix of Indonesian, Caribbean, Thai and Mediterranean themes all rolled into one. “I get upset every time someone hears ‘Island Company’ and thinks our stores will be tiki huts and grass skirts. My island experience is far beyond that. It’s the idea of islands as an unreachable location, or ideal that exists only in dreams. I want people to walk in and feel like they’ve left the country, enter a movie and take a vacation when they visit with us,” shares Spencer.

The authentic island lifestyle is a core component of Island Company, and one that Antle is not willing to compromise. “This is a product of my love for the islands and my life traveling through them. I’m not selling a brand that I just created because I thought it was trendy or an idea that would sell. I’m branding my life.” Antle, a former award-winning television director, scuba instructor, and seaplane pilot, started Island Company from a collection of only 13 bikinis he designed as a hobby, taking a vacation from filmmaking. KDH caught up with the hotshot to chat about the Hamptons:

KDHamptons: Why did you choose to open a store in the hamptons? Why is East Hampton the perfect fit?
SA: East hampton was a no-brainer. I’ve always liked the hamptons, but when I spent time in the summers visiting my Manhattan friends, I always stayed in Sag Harbor. But East Hampton seemed perfect for us given the caliber of local.

KDH: Describe your typical Hamptons customer.
SA: Not sure yet. People seem curious about the brand, and given our customers at our other 5 stores, it always seems to be some pretty cool cats who spend a lot of time traveling to a lot of pretty cool places. Quite a few celebrities have been into the store, but company policy dictates I don’t tell you who. We like them to feel comfortable with us.

KDH: Do you live here in the summer?
SA: No, i spend my time as a homebase in Palm Beach, but I’m constantly traveling. Just this week i’ve been in Vegas, Oahu, Maui, San Francisco and by end of the week, Hong Kong. India is next week!

KDH: What’s up next for Island Company?
SA: I am looking to open 3 more stores in the next twelve months. Hawaii, Saint Barths, London, Vegas and Rio are all being investigated heavily.

KDH: Will you stay open year round?
SA: We don’t know yet. We are still feeling out the season and the customer. We close our Nantucket and Martha’s Vineyard stores end of October, and my feeling is we will close East Hampton by November as well. The staff are a bunch of jetsetters too, so they will probably follow us to wherever the sun is!

*Check out Island Company at 66 Newtown Lane, East Hampton; 631.324.2700 or go to www.IslandCompany.com