The New Nantucket Boutiques Changing How the Island ShopsSteplane, TWP, and Tuckernuck are among the founder-driven labels that’ve opened this summer. Stroll into Steplane’s new Nantucket boutique, and you’ll immediately notice the tartan: plush folded blankets arranged beside fine jewelry, embroidered sweaters, and linens. Many of the brands arriving on the island remain relatively small operations, most with fewer than five storefronts nationally—a natural fit for an island that staunchly resists large-scale chain retail. “Nantucket has long had a vibrant commercial downtown consisting of small, homegrown boutiques, art galleries, and specialty stores,” says William Raveis Realtor Jim Houghton, who has spent decades living and working on the island. For Tuckernuck, the Washington, DC–based brand inspired by the three founders’ Nantucket summers, the opening marks something of a homecoming.