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A Washington, DC Fashion Blog + Food, Travel, Lifestyle and Culture

Ginger Root Design - Tailoring & Design Studio Opening

Our second visit to Ginger Root Design in the past week was an eye-opening and exhilarating experience. Though talented owners Kristen Swenson and Erin Derge have been tailoring and designing clothes from the English basement of 1530 U Street for awhile now, the opening of their dedicated tailoring and design studio on the second floor of the same building represents a significant step, not only for Ginger Root, but for Washington DC as well. Stylish DC’ers now have an appointment-only destination for tailoring and clothing re-design and Ginger Root has the infrastructure to kick things up a notch. Old clothes from your closet and found thrift or vintage items can now be turned into exactly what you hoped and dreamed they would be when you bought them. What we saw at Ginger Root is a testament to just how serious, hardworking, and organized an operation they are running. This is an exciting time for style in DC.

Our photos:

Kristen Swenson and Erin Derge of Ginger Root Design:

Kristen Swenson and Erin Derge of Ginger Root Design

A sewing machine ready for work in the new sewing room:

Ginger Root Design Tailoring

Our favorite photo, a rainbow of thread spools:

Ginger Root Design Tailoring

Inspirations in the sewing room:

Ginger Root Design Tailoring

A work in progress:

Ginger Root Design Tailoring

Ginger Root Design Tailoring

Ginger Root Design Tailoring

We loved that Ginger Root Design produced a book with examples of their custom work:

Ginger Root Design Tailoring

Eric Channing Brewer of Dandies and Quaintrelles with Nicole Aguirre:

Ginger Root Design Tailoring

Eric’s fantastic messenger bag:

Ginger Root Design Tailoring

Ginger Root Design Tailoring

The gift bags were so cute, with illustrations by local artist Elizabeth Graeber and a measuring tape bow pin:

Ginger Root Design Gift Bag

Erin Derge and Kristen Swenson of Ginger Root Design

Tweed Ride Photo Shoot TPWP is always excited when DC creatives join forces. In the case of the Tweed Ride photo shoot, we are doubly excited because it involves some of our favorite Washington DC stylistas. This endeavor was undertaken in the name of publicizing the Tweed Ride and the talents of some of DC’s most creative and fashionable. The shots will be posted on the Dandies & Quaintrelles blog in the coming days. The principals of the project are Kate Warren, as producer and photographer and Elise Peterson, as lead stylist. The shoot was undertaken with the blessing of Eric Brewer, founder of the Tweed Ride and Dandies & Quaintrelles. Here is the expanded list of those involved: Kate Warren of Go Kate Shoot Elise Peterson of It’s Vintage Darling Michelle German of Chic Makeup Geek Shannon Cusello of Immortal Beloved Erin Berteaux Emma Jade Stephanie Mills of The Model is Wearing Kimee Brown of The Model is Wearing Ariel Mantilla To participate in the Tweed Ride go to the event page HERE and go to Dandies & Quaintrelles HERE to find out more about the event.

Tweed Ride Photo Shoot

TPWP is always excited when DC creatives join forces. In the case of the Tweed Ride photo shoot, we are doubly excited because it involves some of our favorite Washington DC stylistas. This endeavor was undertaken in the name of publicizing the Tweed Ride and the talents of some of DC’s most creative and fashionable. The shots will be posted on the Dandies & Quaintrelles blog in the coming days.
The principals of the project are Kate Warren, as producer and photographer and Elise Peterson, as lead stylist. The shoot was undertaken with the blessing of Eric Brewer, founder of the Tweed Ride and Dandies & Quaintrelles.

Here is the expanded list of those involved:

To participate in the Tweed Ride go to the event page HERE and go to Dandies & Quaintrelles HERE to find out more about the event.

Submerge

Submerge is an art show produced by No Kings Collective, who we last covered at Activation 440. We love the current trend in DC of using vacant characterful semi-derelict spaces as venues for events. This phenomenon is due to organizations such as verdeHOUSE who help facilitate the use of these spaces. If you are reading this before Sunday the 25th of September, make sure you visit the show (there’s new exhibits unveiled daily) - details HERE.

We were inspired by the vibe of the space and felt the energy of the art, attendees and music - here are our images:

Submerge logo

Submerge entry graffiti

Submerge vista

We are definitely biased since he is a good friend, but we absolutely loved this mural by Kelly Towles. His color choices and abstract background inspired us. Can we make an outfit out of this?:

Submerge - Kelly Towles

An electric tribute to DC’s Cool Disco Dan by Juan Pineda:

Submerge - Juan Pineda

We desperately wanted to take these robot figures by Peter Chang home:

Submerge robots

Submerge robots

Submerge attendees

Closeup detail of a sculpture by James Kerns:

Submerge - James Kerns

Another work by Peter Chang:

Submerge - art

The ever stylish Eric Brewer, who we have photographed before:

Submerge - Eric Brewer

Submerge - wheel sculpture

A view of Submerge, a section of a mural by Tim Conlon can be seen in the background:

Submerge - Tim Conlon

Sometimes the runway is backstage.  Eric Brewer stylist of the Hugh & Crye runway show (and founder of the Tweed Ride) strides into the backstage area before ReadysetDC fashion:district Spring/Summer 2011.

Sometimes the runway is backstage.  Eric Brewer stylist of the Hugh & Crye runway show (and founder of the Tweed Ride) strides into the backstage area before ReadysetDC fashion:district Spring/Summer 2011.