It all started with a stitch – literally. No grand plan, no big idea. One weekend I was just looking to burn off some anxiety and turned to embroidery (a craft my grandma Rita taught me when I was a young girl in Nebraska). I picked up an old cashmere sweater, a needle and thread and LF was born – a subversive underground movement to counteract the forces of mass production, mindless consumerism, and the patriarchy. Just kidding (kind of).

Today, Lingua Franca is a line of sustainably-sourced, fair trade luxury cashmere sweaters, all hand-stitched by women in NYC. Tomorrow? Who knows what we will morph into. I hope we will grow into a super compelling company that continues to engage in our world. I hope we add to the world, not take from it. I hope to stay on my toes, and continue to be humbled and inspired by the people I meet along the way. I hope we are able to see the humor in things and find the joy. And, I hope to call out and celebrate the absurd. I’m excited!  xo Rachelle

 

p.s. We’re living in uncertain (and often scary) times. We don’t have all the answers. But we try to listen and we try to learn. We’re committed to fair trade, ethical labor practices, and the highest environmental standards. We’re proud to pay our embroiderers, all local women in NYC, a living wage. Oh, and we’re really into using our brand as a platform to inspire change – a portion of LF proceeds support the badass activists and organizations who are working for a better world.

We care a lot. 

 

As some of you know, many of our sweater styles send $100 from each purchase to a specific organization. Many other initiatives we've done with our own products, and collaborations with friends, have given back too, oftentimes with really meaningful amounts.

To date, with your help, we've raised over a million dollars in cash and in-kind donations to groups and causes that are dear to our hearts (!). 

If you're curious, we’ve been tracking each organization and the amount donated in this spreadsheet. This document will be updated weekly for you to see in semi-real time. We look forward to continuing this journey of giving back together and are so grateful to have your support!

 

Customer Service 

For customization, order inquiries, or general questions, please email us at info@linguafranca.nyc. We look forward to hearing from you!