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Mapping fashion in the ‘City by the Sea’: Shopping districts in Newport, Rhode Island

2016; Intellect; Volume: 4; Issue: 1 Linguagem: Inglês

10.1386/fspc.4.1.7_1

2050-0734

Linda Welters, Jennifer Pisula, Megan Martinelli, Mary Elizabeth Corrigan, Sarah Lockrem, Sarah Templeton, Sarah Yang, Holly Paquette, Catherine P. Murphy, Hilary Baker,

Cultural Industries and Urban Development

Abstract Newport, Rhode Island is internationally recognized for both its prime location on Narragansett Bay and its storied history. Nicknamed the ‘City by the Sea’, it is famous for its world-class sailing, colonial New England architecture, Gilded Age mansions, trendy restaurants and bars, and nearby beaches. Cultural tourism is a multi-million dollar business for Rhode Island, especially for Newport, where shopping is fourth on the list of revenue generators. The relationship of an American resort city’s geographical setting, built environment, and cultural heritage to its fashion retail sector has not been explored. Acknowledging that fashion contributes to a city’s image, the authors review Newport’s history, provide a profile of Newport today, map Newport’s nine shopping districts, and analyse Newport’s fashion retail sector on the various streets, squares, wharves and piers. Such an analysis may prove useful to retailers in other resort cities – both small independent boutique owners and national chain stores – as well as city planners and tourism boards.