by Carolyn Webb

Welcome to new AAUW member Sarah Krinsky!

Sarah is the co-owner, with her business partner Bri Magnifico, of the W-Collective, an unusual
shop, café and event space at 332 West Main Street in Bennington. The shop opened in July
of this year, and has an interesting variety of vintage clothing, glassware, pottery, vinyl LPs,
hand designed cards, locally made soaps, and many kinds of decorative art for the home. They
also offer tea and coffee beverages and cookies. The shop is decorated for the holidays with a
colorful magenta pink tree, full of handmade ornaments. Everything is beautifully arranged. Her
partner Bri is a graduate of Bennington College, and a native of Bennington, and they are both
interested in fostering the connection of Bennington College students to the town of Bennington.

They also offer Bennington College art students a place to show their artwork, several of which
are in the shop now.

There is an outdoor courtyard connected with the shop, and Sarah and Bri have had several
programs, including book talks coordinated with the Bennington Bookshop, and Wine Tasting
events. During the summer, in front of the shop, there was always a cozy seating area,
welcoming visitors to sit and chat. They are looking forward to hosting more events in the
coming year.

Originally from Staten Island, Sarah attended schools there and also spent a couple of her
elementary school years in Quebec City, while her mother taught English at the University.
Sarah received her B.A. in Anthropology and Sociology from Seton Hall University and attended
Le Moyne College, studying Arts Administration. After college, she moved to Brooklyn and
worked in fashion and retail for several years. She and her husband moved to Bennington from
Syracuse, after visiting several times.

Sarah and Bri are very interested in ethical and eco-sustainable, well-made clothing, and reuse
of clothing and wares, thus the vintage clothing which she has been collecting for several years.
She is also involved in the promotion of women designers, makers, and business owners, and is
co-coordinator for the Women’s Business Owners Network, or WBON, and is hoping to start a
chapter in Bennington.

Sarah is also a member of the Bennington Area Arts Council Board. In
addition, she is the Advancement and Volunteer Coordinator at Hildene in Manchester. And,
one more thing, Sarah plays the cello in the Sage Symphony Orchestra.
Do stop by the shop when you’re downtown and say hello, especially since we are not meeting
in person at this point. Have a delicious cup of tea or coffee, a cookie, and chat with Sarah and
Bri.

And enjoy perusing all the beautiful things in their shop.