As the U Street area diligently plods through fits and starts of promising retail ventures, Ginger Root Design remains a constant favorite of ours. Between the adorable house-made lady ties and wares from plenty of local designers, the “Midwestern sweetheart meets 1940s dandy” shop always turns up something interesting.
Which means we’re very excited to see what the next chapter holds for owners Erin Derge and Kristen Swenson. They’ve expanded and redesigned the shop, and you can check out the brand new look at the grand reopening party tonight from 6 to 10 PM. Local folk musicians the Sweater Set will be playing tunes in the new back-room performance space, and the lovely ladies of the Trash Cat Collective will be hosting one final vintage pop-up shop. If you love supporting local labels and one-of-a-kind clothing, it’s time to get to know Ginger Root a little better.
Ginger Root Design. 1530 U St., NW (basement space); 202-567-7668. There’s no cost to attend and you don’t need to print out a ticket, but help the hosts figure out how much booze to get by RSVPing.
Sarah is the Editor-in-Chief of Washingtonian Bride & Groom, and writes about weddings, fashion, and shopping. Her work has also appeared in Refinery29, Bethesda Magazine, and Washington City Paper, among others. She is a Georgetown University graduate, lives in Columbia Heights, and you can find her on Instagram at @washbridegroom and @sarahzlot.
