Maisonette Muse: Rachelle Hruska
Rachelle Hruska, creator of highly sought after cashmere line Lingua Franca and mother of two adorable boys, is our latest Muse.
We sat down with this entrepreneur to discuss the important message behind her brand, how she hopes to set an example for her children, and the simple hacks that will give you the confidence to travel the globe with your little ones.
We’re so thrilled about our exclusive mini Lingua Franca collection! Can you talk about the line, and how it began?
I learned how to sew and embroider from my grandma when I was in 6th grade. I always loved it, but last year, my therapist suggested I find a way to work with my hands in an effort to combat my anxiety. So I picked it back up again, experimenting on my old sweaters. I loved the juxtaposition of hip hop phrases and fine cashmere. My husband actually got his start by opening hip hop clubs in the early 90’s in LA, so we had a lot of fun collaborating and coming up with sayings together.
I started posting my designs on Instagram and suddenly, I had friends asking if I would make sweaters for them. Soon stores were asking if they could stock the sweaters. I was saying to someone that hip hop seems to be the “Lingua Franca” of our times. The phrase kept coming back to me and when I realized the name had never been taken, I was shocked. I love the meaning behind it, and absolutely adore the idea of a common language among people. I trademarked it immediately.
Did you set out to take a stand on social issues with the brand, or did that happen somewhat organically, given the political climate and elections?
Lingua Franca employs over forty part-time embroiderers - all women - from diverse backgrounds. We have students and immigrants sewing for us. In our offices, the day after the election, everyone was quiet and serious. You could feel the heaviness. For the first time in my life I truly felt like I was able to feel and understand political dissonance. The lives of the people I knew and cared about, the women I saw daily, were hanging in the balance. We started slowly putting resistance phrases on sweaters for fun. Then, Trump tried to pass the most outrageous and carelessly planned travel ban, and people were huddled in tears in the office. I decided at that point that it was time to go full throttle into speaking out against this administration. We started sewing away and we haven’t stopped since then.
We’re so thrilled about our exclusive mini Lingua Franca collection! Can you talk about the line, and how it began?
I learned how to sew and embroider from my grandma when I was in 6th grade. I always loved it, but last year, my therapist suggested I find a way to work with my hands in an effort to combat my anxiety. So I picked it back up again, experimenting on my old sweaters. I loved the juxtaposition of hip hop phrases and fine cashmere. My husband actually got his start by opening hip hop clubs in the early 90’s in LA, so we had a lot of fun collaborating and coming up with sayings together.
I started posting my designs on Instagram and suddenly, I had friends asking if I would make sweaters for them. Soon stores were asking if they could stock the sweaters. I was saying to someone that hip hop seems to be the “Lingua Franca” of our times. The phrase kept coming back to me and when I realized the name had never been taken, I was shocked. I love the meaning behind it, and absolutely adore the idea of a common language among people. I trademarked it immediately.
Did you set out to take a stand on social issues with the brand, or did that happen somewhat organically, given the political climate and elections?
Lingua Franca employs over forty part-time embroiderers - all women - from diverse backgrounds. We have students and immigrants sewing for us. In our offices, the day after the election, everyone was quiet and serious. You could feel the heaviness. For the first time in my life I truly felt like I was able to feel and understand political dissonance. The lives of the people I knew and cared about, the women I saw daily, were hanging in the balance. We started slowly putting resistance phrases on sweaters for fun. Then, Trump tried to pass the most outrageous and carelessly planned travel ban, and people were huddled in tears in the office. I decided at that point that it was time to go full throttle into speaking out against this administration. We started sewing away and we haven’t stopped since then.
What are your hopes for the future of the brand?
The Lingua Franca Cashmere collection has evolved into a kid’s line and different colors/sayings/styles as time goes on. Lingua Franca Inc. the company will, in a perfect world, grow into something much more. Our ethos is sharing “a common language” and the products that inspire me, with this ethos in mind, will be the underlining theme of future products we release. We are working on a totally new product line (outside of fashion) for a spring launch - stay tuned!
How has being a mother help you in your work? How does your work help you to be a better mother?
Being a mother has made me much better at my job. There’s that saying: “If you want something done, give it to a mom,” which I totally think rings true. I don't have time to be unfocused - there really is just too much to do in the day - and I want to get into work and get things done so that I can go home and be with my family. I love having my boys in our offices, watching me lead. I hope that they are inspired by me. I want, more than anything, for them to understand the importance of working hard on things that are meaningful to you. I care about the world they are growing up in and I want to be a better leader and contributor to society for them. The most successful people I’ve met along the way usually place the highest value on being able to really live well and make time for the things that make them happiest. I truly enjoy my work, so it doesn’t normally feel like a drag - it makes me happy. Having something that’s my own and that makes me happy makes me a better human and mother and wife.
The Lingua Franca Cashmere collection has evolved into a kid’s line and different colors/sayings/styles as time goes on. Lingua Franca Inc. the company will, in a perfect world, grow into something much more. Our ethos is sharing “a common language” and the products that inspire me, with this ethos in mind, will be the underlining theme of future products we release. We are working on a totally new product line (outside of fashion) for a spring launch - stay tuned!
How has being a mother help you in your work? How does your work help you to be a better mother?
Being a mother has made me much better at my job. There’s that saying: “If you want something done, give it to a mom,” which I totally think rings true. I don't have time to be unfocused - there really is just too much to do in the day - and I want to get into work and get things done so that I can go home and be with my family. I love having my boys in our offices, watching me lead. I hope that they are inspired by me. I want, more than anything, for them to understand the importance of working hard on things that are meaningful to you. I care about the world they are growing up in and I want to be a better leader and contributor to society for them. The most successful people I’ve met along the way usually place the highest value on being able to really live well and make time for the things that make them happiest. I truly enjoy my work, so it doesn’t normally feel like a drag - it makes me happy. Having something that’s my own and that makes me happy makes me a better human and mother and wife.
Any advice to working moms?
Keep on keeping on. Everyday is a struggle for us all - I try to remember this and don’t place guilt on myself when, for example, I miss something at school. You can’t be everywhere. Learn how to say no. This is the hardest lesson, and I’m still learning, but it’s getting easier the more I do it.
Greatest lesson your own mother taught you?
The thing with my mom is that she’s always just been there. No matter what I’ve done, or how many miles separate us, she is there for me, and for us. Sometimes just knowing that someone has your back unconditionally is the greatest gift. I hope my own children will feel this way about me.
Your family travels all over the world – and you seem to do it so seamlessly! Can you share some advice on how to travel with young children?
Well, I think first the first thing before setting out on an adventure is to just get in the mindset that things are going to get nutty. Even the best-planned trip will have mishaps that you can’t control. Accepting this at the get-go sort of sets you up to not be totally bummed out when things do happen. Every mishap you can imagine has happened to us: delayed flights, canceled flights, missed flights, 2am airport shuttles, mistakes with dates and housing - not to mention POOP! OMG, I have so many stories! One time we were on a flight in a very small plane and my 6-month old accidentally peed on the bald head of an older man in front of us. In the moment it was pretty terrible, but I kept repeating to myself something Nora Ephron said: “Everything is copy.” And guess what? It is a funny story now.
Another tip: We try to only let the kids watch their iPads when we are traveling, so they LOVE airplanes and cars and trains because it’s where they get to watch their shows.
And finally: Just go! The more you travel, the more your kids get used to the idea and good at it. Our kids have their own backpacks and at this point have the routine down.
Keep on keeping on. Everyday is a struggle for us all - I try to remember this and don’t place guilt on myself when, for example, I miss something at school. You can’t be everywhere. Learn how to say no. This is the hardest lesson, and I’m still learning, but it’s getting easier the more I do it.
Greatest lesson your own mother taught you?
The thing with my mom is that she’s always just been there. No matter what I’ve done, or how many miles separate us, she is there for me, and for us. Sometimes just knowing that someone has your back unconditionally is the greatest gift. I hope my own children will feel this way about me.
Your family travels all over the world – and you seem to do it so seamlessly! Can you share some advice on how to travel with young children?
Well, I think first the first thing before setting out on an adventure is to just get in the mindset that things are going to get nutty. Even the best-planned trip will have mishaps that you can’t control. Accepting this at the get-go sort of sets you up to not be totally bummed out when things do happen. Every mishap you can imagine has happened to us: delayed flights, canceled flights, missed flights, 2am airport shuttles, mistakes with dates and housing - not to mention POOP! OMG, I have so many stories! One time we were on a flight in a very small plane and my 6-month old accidentally peed on the bald head of an older man in front of us. In the moment it was pretty terrible, but I kept repeating to myself something Nora Ephron said: “Everything is copy.” And guess what? It is a funny story now.
Another tip: We try to only let the kids watch their iPads when we are traveling, so they LOVE airplanes and cars and trains because it’s where they get to watch their shows.
And finally: Just go! The more you travel, the more your kids get used to the idea and good at it. Our kids have their own backpacks and at this point have the routine down.
Your travel must-have?
My camera. I love taking photos and documenting our trips with books later on. Also, if I’m being honest, I always carry around my Xanax. Just knowing I have it makes it easier for me (a very nervous flyer, and anxious claustrophobe, believe it or not), to travel.
What has been your favorite family trip thus far?
Every trip is so different and special but I really love going places that pull us out of our comfort zone: places like Russia, Istanbul, Morocco and Patagonia, where we don’t speak the language and we aren’t familiar with the culture and the customs. These trips are exciting because we are all in it together, learning and experiencing new things. I also love going on surf trips in the middle of nowhere - like Scorpion Bay, Mexico or Pavones, Costa Rica. We visit my mother-in-law and sometimes are without electricity, running water and wi-fi; all of these things that we take for granted. It’s such a release to just be with our family without all of the distractions. We really get a chance to check in with each-other.
What’s next on the list?
India. I still haven’t been and am dying to go. I also really want to go to Lamu in Africa and Egypt.
My camera. I love taking photos and documenting our trips with books later on. Also, if I’m being honest, I always carry around my Xanax. Just knowing I have it makes it easier for me (a very nervous flyer, and anxious claustrophobe, believe it or not), to travel.
What has been your favorite family trip thus far?
Every trip is so different and special but I really love going places that pull us out of our comfort zone: places like Russia, Istanbul, Morocco and Patagonia, where we don’t speak the language and we aren’t familiar with the culture and the customs. These trips are exciting because we are all in it together, learning and experiencing new things. I also love going on surf trips in the middle of nowhere - like Scorpion Bay, Mexico or Pavones, Costa Rica. We visit my mother-in-law and sometimes are without electricity, running water and wi-fi; all of these things that we take for granted. It’s such a release to just be with our family without all of the distractions. We really get a chance to check in with each-other.
What’s next on the list?
India. I still haven’t been and am dying to go. I also really want to go to Lamu in Africa and Egypt.