Gifts, Fashions Offered at Prima-Things

The proverb "good taste is easy to recognize" may apply to Ladi Adoba’s shop at 599 Main Street, located next to the Grog Shop on Roosevelt Island. The shop, called "Prima-Things," offers fashions and gifts that are not especially high-priced.

On a recent visit, an Harve Benard women’s summer suit in grey and white linen hanging in the shop window was flanked by a long African robe in grey cotton brocade richly trimmed with white embroidery. "We call that a Boubou and it’s a very comfortable robe for men, too," laughed the pretty Ms. Adoba, who hails from the West African country of Nigeria. "I’ve called my shop Prima-Things because I try to offer things of prima quality." As she held up some fully-lined women’s pants and skirts in brown wool crepe, beige silk or black velvet, she explained, "I’m specializing in women’s clothing in sizes 12 to 22. There seems to be a lot of demand for attractive clothes in those sizes." On the racks are long-sleeved silk blouses in animal prints, sleeveless shells with matching hip-long cardigans in pale metallic knit, silk scarves in jewel tones, even an amusing yellow-and-black striped hat with handbag to match.

"I can also design formal and casual clothes to be made to order," Adoba explained as she drew attention to the many fashion sketches that decorate the wall behind the counter. "I received a Bachelor’s Degree in Fashion Design from London’s College for Applied Arts when I was living in England. I used to have a shop in Nigeria and when I first came to New York I shared a shop with some friends. I opened Prima-Things here last October, and Islanders are now getting to know me."

Besides women’s fashions and leather sandals for men and children, her shop carries interesting tie-dye, batik and African print fabrics in lengths of four to six yards. A handwoven royal blue with silver thread, called Asoke, can be used as a shawl, headwrap or table runner. There are lots of African gift items such as enormous wooden salad bowls, calabash gourds typically decorated by the Hausa tribe of northern Nigeria, colorful baskets and flat raffia trays used in Africa for winnowing the chaff from grain, also bracelets in woven Kente fabric from Ghana, a country west of Nigeria. In addition the shop carries Mikasa crystal bowls and vases from Japan, as well as American-made silverplated coffee or tea sets with trays. There are cookbooks, spice racks, over-sized coffee cups, Mary Kay cosmetics, bath gels in charming heart-shaped bottles, delicate silver earrings and necklaces, etc. The most charming gift items, however, are the funny little "Teapot cottages" displayed in the window and priced from $1.99. "These might make amusing Mother’s Day gifts," she suggested.

Her shop, "Prima-Things," is open Tuesdays through Saturdays, from 10 a.m. to 6:30 p.m.