LONG ISLAND, NY — Every tried-and-true Long Islander has their own, unique bacon-egg-and-cheese order. For Julia Christ, who grew up on the East End and now lives on the South Shore, it's a sesame roll, with bacon, egg, and cheddar cheese, sometimes with avocado.
Long Islanders, Christ said, share a wealth of tastes and experiences, from that quintessential bacon-egg-and cheese on a roll, to the magic of the surf and beach — and the unique "Lawn-guy-land" accent that harkens memories of home.
This year, Christ launched her new product line, Atlantic & Sound, to conjure up all things Long Island for locals, visitors, and for the many who carry the essence of the place they call home in their hearts, even when they travel miles away.
From a full-line of apparel — including T-shirts and sweatshirts with expressions including "Beach Bae" and "Love Where You Live" — to the perfect beach hats and towels, to BEC-designed mugs, and nautically-themed jewelry, home goods and gift ideas, Atlantic & Sound has something for everyone whose love of Long Island runs deep.
Her clothing and products are "made with humor, love and the mission of giving back to Long Island," Christ said.
Atlantic & Sound, founder and president Christ said, is named for Long Island's two signature water bodies, the Atlantic Ocean and Long Island Sound.
Christ, who has a background in art and graphic design, said, on the Atlantic & Sound website, that the designs and full array of products embody not just the nautical theme but "the roasted beach bum; the wine-country wannabe; the returning tourist with local knowledge; the rushed LIRR city commuter; our Lawn Guyland accents; that New Yawker attitude; and the many colloquial jokes every native Long Islander knows."
Community pride is fierce among Long Island locals, Christ wrote in the Atlantic & Sound blog: "We are a microcosm of neighbors who fiercely love our island home. Whenever we can, we passionately talk about how much we love this place. And even when we can't chat about it, we show our love for this isle in any way we can — most notably through our style and wardrobe. This devotion is contagious and local tourists love it here, too. When an entire island feels like a neighborhood, everyone comes back again and again."
The dream for her business was born in 2019 when Christ was looking for the perfect Long Island-themed car sticker for her window. While she saw a myriad of products, Christ wanted to touch upon the uniquely specific Long Island experiences that connect locals and visitors alike.
From the minute the idea for her business took root, Christ was brimming with ideas. She went out to dinner with her husband Christopher to discuss her vision. "I was just spitballing at him," she laughed. "And it just grew from there."
Christ approached her new business with both creative flair and the organized, "right brain" thinking needed to launch a website and a business.
When the pandemic hit in 2020, Christ's plans for her business were well underway, and the gift of time gave her more time to dedicate toward her goal of launching her line — a business and brand she hopes to grow and expand, possibly internationally, in the future.
Christ, an artist since childhood who's shown her work at local exhibits, sketches designs and also creates graphic design concepts digitally; she also single-handedly designed and created the Atlantic & Sound website and brand identity and logo.
Designing the Atlantic & Sound wave logo, Christ said she wanted it complement, but not "outshine" the designs on the clothing and decor.
The inspiration for Atlantic & Sound's logo is the infinity symbol, she said.
"For me, the twin waves represent a lot of things from Long Island – the twin forks, the two shores, both North and South, the two bodies of water, the Atlantic Ocean and the Long Island Sound – but the most significant inspiration is the infinity symbol," Christ said on her website.
"Timelessness, boundlessness, balance, infinite love — these are the things I think of when I think of Long Island and the home I've built here. I know a lot of locals feel that way and are inspired by that love; the logo is the embodiment of that."
Her bright, playful photography and colors are meant to exude "love and fun for Long Island life with apparel representing that joy," Christ said.
When asked what memory captures the essence of her feelings for Long Island, for home, Christ recalled a moment when she was home visiting from her New England college. "I came home to visit my family and we just took a walk down the street, and remember just breaking down, crying. There was this smell, of the water and the sand. And I just thought, 'This is where my home is.'"
Her "Home Sweet Home" pillows evoke the deep emotions so many feel for their Long Island homes, Christ said.
Even traveling to college, Christ said she met Long Islanders who talked about shared references, jokes, and the infinite beauty of the sea and windswept beaches. "There's this heart, this love and devotion that not just I feel. I wanted to create a line of products that talks about that love for this place," she said.
The scent of the beach, and even that singular bacon-egg-and-cheese smell, instantly brings back all the memories of home, Christ said. "It speaks to how ingrained this place can be," she said.
Some of her favorite creations include the "Lawn-guy-land" graphic Ts, as well as the heart-shaped graphic surrounding the words "Long Island".
"It speaks to the love and devotion people have for this place," Christ said.
As a woman, Christ said she brings her unique vision and experiences to her line of clothing and decor.
Christ also hopes to give back to non-profits and local charities, especially those focused on the environment, beach cleanup, the Long Island Pine Barrens, and water preservation. And she wants to shine a light on other philanthropic local businesses dedicated to safe-guarding Long Island's natural environment.
"You have to be able to pay it forward or give back," she said. "I have so much to be thankful for, growing up here. It's shaped who I am. I hope to be able to give back and just advocate for other non-profits and local busineses, showcasing them to our audience and highlighting them on our website — to get their voices heard and talk about what they're doing to give back."
She added: "Community pride is not just wearing Long Island gear or having a house decorated in Long Island-themed pillows or wall art. It just permeates everything — it permeates what you are doing for the community."
Hometown pride thrives across Long Island, most especially on small-town Main Streets, Christ said. Whether walking her dog Easton on Main Street in her current hometown or in the village where she grew up, the Main Street sense of community runs through Long Island, with Montauk Highway and its infrastructure connecting towns and hamlets all the way out to Montauk, she said.
A sense of family and community echoes on every Long Island Main Street, on every sun-kissed beach with sparkling surf. Hometown pride is evidenced in the scores of parades that decorate the Long Island canvas, Christ said. "It's that small-town America feeling," she said.
Atlantic & Sound captures the full realm of emotions so many feel for Long Island. "It's not just about locals, who are fierce about where we live. So many who visit us share that same respect and admiration for our landscape, our towns, our communities. So it's just bringing that hometown feel to those who love our communities — and those who want to share them with us."
Down the line, Christ said she'd love to explore a brick-and-mortar shop for Atlantic & Sound. Her products are currently available at Atlantic & Sound here; as part of her grand opening sale, customers can enjoy a 10 percent discount on their entire order with the code "Atlantic10."
In addition, Christ said those who follow her on social media, including Facebook and Instagram, should look for monthly giveaways and updates on new products.
For Christ, Atlantic & Sound is a love letter to the Long Island she and so many others care about. "It means home, it means family. It means, really, a big part of my life, because of what's ingrained in me, having growing up here — and all that's instilled inside."
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New Business, Atlantic & Sound, Captures Essence Of LI Life, Home - Patch.com
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