VCU news

By Leila Ugincius

A scarf designed by a Virginia Commonwealth University graduate became part of history this week when Democratic presidential nominee Hillary Clinton not only wore, but talked about the scarf during a campaign speech.

It was more than just the fact that someone of Clinton’s stature was wearing something that Anna Johnson had designed at Denver’s Knotty Tie Co., Johnson said. The scarf and Knotty Tie actually became a talking point in Clinton’s campaign.

“That is the part that is just amazing to me,” Johnson said. “The chances that this would happen to us are really one in a million, and definitely a once-in-a-lifetime moment. We could not have planned this. It just fell into our laps that we became a part of this campaign.”

It was a whirlwind week for Johnson, a 2012 VCU Fashion Design graduate. She arrived at work Monday morning to find staffers from Clinton’s presidential campaign checking out the facility and asking if the establishment would mind if Clinton, who had mentioned Knotty Tie in her acceptance speech, came to visit. The owners wholeheartedly agreed and asked the design staff to come up with special designs for Clinton. They had until Tuesday morning, but Johnson didn’t know this until an hour before the deadline.

“I came up with my two designs in about an hour” using Clinton’s campaign colors, Johnson said. "When I designed the scarves for Hillary I was really thinking about how to highlight her campaign logo and colors in a feminine way. I thought floral print would be a great way to accomplish that and you are seeing a lot of mixed florals right now. Making her logo feminine was my biggest concern considering she is the first ever female presidential candidate.”

When Clinton arrived at Knotty Tie on Wednesday, she made sure to speak with each employee as she toured the facility. Before she left for a rally in Commerce City, Colorado, the crew presented her with five specially designed scarves.

Johnson and her colleagues were ecstatic to see Clinton wearing Johnson’s floral “H” logo scarf, and floored when, 10 minutes into her speech, she spoke about the scarf while talking about things made in America.

“Just today, I went to the Knotty Tie Company. And I met folks living right here in Denver who are making ties and scarves,” Clinton said at the rally. “I hope you like this one because I got it at Knotty just a few hours ago. … One thing I really like about it, is printed right here on the scarf, it says 'Made in Colorado, Not China.'"

Johnson had added that custom tag message to the scarf in reference to Clinton’s speech at the Democratic National Convention

“I was just so proud of our company,” Johnson said. “I am so thankful to be working here; I feel as though I have found my happy place. … I would never be where I'm at today without my education from VCUarts. I draw from my education there each and every day and am so thankful and proud that I went to VCU for my fashion degree. Each one of the professors in the art school made a lasting impact on me.

Knotty Tie’s Hillary Collection, including the “H” logo scarf, can be found at www.knottytie.com/collections/hillary-clinton.