Embroidery enthusiasts on the hunt for Christmas tree inspirations need look no further than the Riggs in Washington, D.C. The boutique hotel teamed up with Rachelle Hruska MacPherson's Lingua Franca to whip up a festive tree celebrating the art of hand-stitching and craftsmanship.
The cashmere-clad tree is bedecked with hand-embroidered crocheted garlands and embroidery hoop ornaments with some of Lingua Franca's trademark slogans such as "Vote," "Give a Damn," "Peace on Earth," and "Dream on Dreamers."
Take a closer look to spot Juno Moneta, the Roman goddess and protector of funds, embroidered on some of the hoops – a nod to the building's history as the former Riggs National Bank dating back to 1891.
Rachelle Hruska MacPherson launched her brand as a response to her therapist's suggestion to take up embroidery for anxiety relief. Lingua Franca gained popularity during the Trump White House years, for its slogans such as "I Miss Barack" on cashmere sweaters. At the moment, the brand has a wide range of garments with further slogans such as "I Read Banned Books," "Abortion is Self-Care" and "Gun Control Now".
Using embroidery hoop ornaments as Christmas decorations (especially smaller ones) is not a new idea, but usually we all tend to adorn them with cute Christmas motifs. This tree invites us instead to consider the possibility of spreading more than just joy through the humble embroidery hook.
So, grab your needle and thread, opt for joyful messages, go political or express your frustration at the current state of the world and turn your Christmas tree into an opportunity to make a real statement with personalised slogans. Let the holiday stitching begin!
