12Feb

Ginger Root is Closing on March 7th

Thank you to all of our wonderful customers and clients who have frequented our tailoring shop over the past 5 years! We’ve always appreciated you, and are proud that we’ve never once needed to advertise. Your word of mouth built our business, and we’re so grateful! You’ve always had our back as we transformed throughout the years, and we’re excited to announce the next big news:

We are both pregnant!! And while we have absolutely loved our journey at Ginger Root, it is time for us to take another step forward as we each grow our families.

So, what does that mean?! We are winding things down at our U Street space, and we will be closing Ginger Root Design in March. We will still be tailoring right here in DChowever, out of our individual spaces (though we’re sure to collaborate still from time to time).  As we both have different specialties, we are taking this as an opportunity to do what we do best!

Erin has launched Confetti Tailoring, a tailoring service for bridal, formal, and vintage. In addition to gown alterations, she’ll continue to work with brides and other ladies who want to re-imagine their mom’s wedding dresses, special occasion garments, or vintage pieces. Confetti will also be able to produce custom special occasion dresses for flower girls and attendants, as well as color-coordinated groomsmen/bridesmaid accessories.

Kristen is refocusing on her passion for recycling garments. Available for house calls or appointments at her home tailoring studio, she will be working under the name reTHINK Tailoring, collaborating with individuals who have old items in need of updating, recycling, and repairing. Kristen will also make time for design, especially her new project developing re-sizeable kids clothing.

We will be scheduling our final appointments through February 21, and final garment pick-up will be March 7We just wanted to give you all a heads up first, so you can plan accordingly. Also — we love our neighborhood, and are helping to find a great tenant to take over our space and add to the 15th&U community. If you know someone perfect, send them our way!

The first weekend in March will be our “Farewell Ginger Root” celebration so come by Saturday (3/7) to shop our discounted designs and chat with the Gingers one last time (just don’t tease Erin about her huge belly!). Keep an eye out — more party details to follow!

Of course we will absolutely miss Ginger Root Design, but sometimes you have to end something amazing in order to create something even better. This is where we begin yet another very big chapter for the Gingers. We promise to keep you updated!!

If you have any questions, feel free to email info@gingerrootdesign.com or call us at (202)567-7668

Here are the store hours from now until March 7th:

Monday: 12-7
Tuesday: CLOSED
Wednesday: CLOSED
Thursday: 12-7
Friday: 12-7
Saturday: 12-7
Sunday: CLOSED


10Apr

Ginger Root Around Town

Wondering just how to incorporate some Ginger Root into your work wardrobe or perhaps a night out on the town? Check out BYT’s What to Wear to Work and Creative Cocktailwear: BYT + Corcoran ARTINI to see some Ginger Root and other local goodies. We love BYT!

“BYT Style to the rescue! Some very doable thoughts on how you can wear color to work this spring. To prove that you can do this, we shoot on location in an actual office with actual workers: the very gracious Sorg Architect’s U Street Architecture & Design studio. Lighten up, folks!”

See some of our new Ginger Root Spring goodies below, and check out the entire shoot here.

Ginger Root Lady TiesI Spy a polka dot Lady Tie!!


10Jan

Lucky Magazine

Recycling-minded seamstresses Kristen Swensen and Erin Derge transform secondhand ties and fabrics into profoundly cute ascot-esque accents and bloomer shorts. They’ll also redesign your most unflattering garments (yes, heinous bridesmaid dresses, this means you). You can read about it in the February 2012 issue, or see it online here.    

23Nov

Fleur De Liza Blog: Ginger Root’s Sustainability

Hi readers – today we are SOOOOO excited to be sharing with you some amazing work by a local DC design team of Ginger Root Design. These gals not only create insane goodies but their focus is on revamping. Owners Kristen and Erin repurpose various items and show all of us that repurposed can be […]

18Oct

Brightest Young Things Report Fashion:District

Ginger Root Design were a true breath of fresh air with vintage-inspired, smart and original designs. Perfecting the art of upcycling [making something new out of something already in existence], the style was equally parts London-esque, tweed-and-zipper chique and something that Maggie Gyllenhaal would wear in Secretary.  Zooey Deschanel/Manic Pixie Girl would definitely rock Ginger […]

12Aug

Washington City Paper: Crafty First-Timers

Ginger Root Design Hailing from Washington DC, you may have already shopped in their store on U Street. If you haven’t then you’re in for a pleasant surprise at this year’s Crafty Bastards as Ginger Root Design will feature their handmade, original neckwear (see below)  such as the Lady Ties and the uni-sex Ascot. Also […]

12Aug

NPR: ReVamping DC Fashion

If you raid the racks of Ginger Root Design when you first walk into the cozy basement store at 1530 U Street NW, you’ll see reworked jackets and finely tailored shorts. With their own line, ReVamp ReWear, they focus on the hidden details like pockets made from recycled fabric, specifically the leftover scraps from tailoring […]

25Jul

Ruffled: Lakeside Eco-friendly Wedding

We’re loving all the weddings we’re receiving through our submissions form! This one was sent by the bride herself, Kristen. She and her now husband Louie had a vintage-inspired, eco-friendly wedding in the bride’s hometown in Minnesota. Kristen’s wedding dress and all of the retro bridesmaid dresses were made by Kristen and her friend, Erin. […]

25Jul

Washingtonian: A Ginger Root Wedding

Wedding photos—and DIY advice—from one of our favorite DC fashion designers For the past year, Kristen Swenson has been crafting sustainable garments and accessories for her U Street boutique Ginger Root Design. So when her boyfriend of two years, Louie McCoy, popped the question, she knew her May 29 wedding in Barrett, MN (near Swenson’s […]

28Jun

The Feast: New Designs at Ginger Root

In case you hadn’t noticed, the crop top (one of the most challenging styles in recent memory) is having a resurgence. We know, we know, we were hesitant at first too, but the heat has finally convinced us. Plus they’re much less difficult to pull off with this season’s high-waisted skirts or shorts. To that […]