cardi party

i KNEW there was a reason i've always wanted to work for anthropologie...

check out the "cardi party" story i got in my Anthro email today.... sounds like heaven.


Like any extended family, the Anthropologie home office has its very own eccentricities and traditions—or what we like to call "Anthroisms." Ask any employee what her favorite Anthroism is, and more often than not her answer will be the Cardi Party.
The Cardi Party dates back to late spring 2007, when a group of designers and buyers returned from their trip to Asia highly inspired by the eclectic style and cozy sweater layering on display in Tokyo boutiques.
"It got us talking about the kind of sweaters we'd want to wear around the holidays," recalls sweater designer Carrie. "We were imagining the perfect 'party cardi' and that segued into making your own cardi at a party."
Realizing they had a novel idea on their hands, the team wasted no time gathering new and old sweaters in need of some TLC. Invitations were then sent to colleagues, encouraging them to spend the afternoon away from their desks, crafting and creating. Thirty people, two dogs and several sewing machines converged in a conference room brimming with pizza, music and every doodad imaginable—from ribbons and upholstery swatches to baubles, buttons and faux flowers.
"There were no expectations, no thoughts of gaining business from this," shares divisional merchandise manager Kathy. "We really just aimed to inspire. But as it turned out, the creations were so thoughtful and well-loved, we ended up choosing a favorite to offer to our customer."
Featured on the cover of our 2007 gift catalog, the winning design sold out in weeks.
"Ou's sweater really was a piece of art," Kathy continues. "Its draping ended up being directional for us for seasons to come."
Designers and buyers are likewise complimentary and optimistic about this past party's favorite look, arriving in stores this fall.
"It's a printed angora skirt," coos Carrie. "Its hidden details are so, so beautiful."
Not to be stopped, the design team eagerly introduced the Cardi Party to customers in Dallas and Boston this holiday season.
"It was so nice to spend time with our customers," says Carrie. "Everyone was extremely appreciative to walk away with a 'new' sweater. I think the workshops sparked customers' creativity and gave them the courage to reinvent other items from their closets."
Stay tuned as our hope is to host more in-store reinvention workshops (like the Cardi Party!) throughout the year. And in the meantime, keep on stitching!

UPDATE: Sarah Robins, try this link to go to the web version of the email.... these are the only pictures i could round up of the sweaters.