Long before tacky reindeer sweaters and glitter-covered holiday cardigans became a December tradition, there was one elf… and one very unfortunate night at the North Pole.

According to legend, Jingles Twinkletoe, an overworked gift-wrapping elf, celebrated the end of a long toy-making shift with “just a little” too much gingerbread ale. Feeling extra festive—and slightly wobbly—Jingles stumbled into Santa’s Wardrobe Workshop looking for his winter coat. Instead, he grabbed a half-finished practice sweater covered in mismatched yarn, crooked trees, off-center snowflakes, and a strangely enthusiastic amount of pom-poms.

Proud of his “fashion choice,” Jingles strutted into the annual North Pole Dance-Off wearing the chaotic creation, bottle in hand. And the elves lost their minds. They thought it was intentional—a bold new holiday look. The photos from that night (mostly blurry) spread across the workshops, and suddenly every elf wanted a sweater “as gloriously horrible as Jingles’ masterpiece.”

By the next Christmas, ugly sweater contests were everywhere—at the reindeer barns, toy labs, cookie kitchens, even Santa’s own office. And so, thanks to one tipsy elf with questionable wardrobe judgment, the Ugly Christmas Sweater was born.

To this day, Jingles Twinkletoe claims it was all part of the plan…

It’s fun, wild, and reminds me how ISF brings personality to every print job — even the weird ones.

Concept by Instant Sign Factory. Crafted with ChatGPT. Voice by Murf AI. Music created through Suno AI.”