Today on the Journal, Rinne shares the history of and process of our collaboration that has created hand-painted designs in the Permission to Wander capsule collection.  From Rinne:  This little collection of garments and treasures is inspired by the idea ‘permission to wander’….many years ago my friend Hope Hilton used this term in relation to a body of her work and… Read on

Judith Winfrey is an Atlanta native with a deep connection to the land and an extensive knowledge of farming. Her work with various organizations in Georgia has created a great impact on the state’s slow food culture. Judith was co-founder of Community Farmers Markets—developed to create a local food infrastructure to impact the community in… Read on

Jessica Ullom is the founder and brains behind Hawks and Doves (named after her favorite Neil Young album), a fabric and leather goods company based out of North Carolina. It first began when Jessica (or Jess) started crafting goods inspired by items found at flea markets. As a collector (or “borderline hoarder”, as she describes… Read on

Journal followers are likely familiar with one of the newer faces on our design team: Erin Reitz (née Connelly), who we have featured recently. Erin and business partner Kerry Clark Speake are co-founders of The Commons, a Charleston, South Carolina-based shop that sells high quality, local, and American-made housewares. In addition to the work at… Read on

Alabama Chanin followers and Journal readers are likely familiar with Phillip March Jones—artist, photographer, author, curator, Makeshift participant, and a frequent collaborator of ours. He grew up in Lexington, Kentucky, attended Emory University, the Université Paris 1 Panthéon-Sorbonne, and Auburn University. Phillip founded and runs the non-profit gallery space, venue, and small-scale publishing house, Institute193… Read on

If you’ve spent any amount of time listening to public radio, you become acquainted with or even attached to the sound of a host’s voice. The introduction to a show or podcast becomes familiar, like memorized lyrics to a song, and the host’s voice becomes as recognizable and comforting as a friend’s. For instance, so… Read on

Longtime collaborator Rinne Allen is a skillful storyteller in that she sets the stage, creates a visual narrative, and allows you to see through her same lens – without being heavy-handed. It is her light touch that allows Rinne to present her subjects in the best, most straight-forward, and appropriate manner but allows those subjects,… Read on

In the years since we met Rosanne Cash, we have grown from giddy fans, to dedicated admirers, to proud and honored friends. It is no secret how much we are inspired by Rosanne—as a supporter, an artist, and a beautiful person. We’ve done our best to express our admiration whenever the opportunity arises. We are… Read on

Atlanta-based chef Anne Quatrano is perhaps the most visible figure in the area’s farm-to-table movement. She and her husband and fellow chef Clifford Harrison are longtime proponents of sustainability and make concerted efforts to use locally grown seasonal and organic products—much of which comes from their own family farm. They own and operate three established restaurants—Bacchanalia, Little Bacch, and Floataway… Read on

In October of 2014, and as an extension of our Makeshift initiative, we began a new series of events and conversations called On Design. This series explores art, design, makers, relationships, and how those who create can elevate craft in general. Natalie hosted our inaugural event, which was an exploration of the school of Bauhaus… Read on

At The School of Making, we incorporate our core values of sustainability, fashion, DIY, craft, and community into our mission, daily practices, and our educational initiatives. Through our sewing workshops, we are able to teach these values and create experiences for our guests to connect creatively with our team, each other, and their own selves.   In Crafternoon, Maura… Read on

In July, we wrote about the book Design for Artists and Craftsmen as part of our series that explores vintage design, embroidery, and craft books.  I carried this book with me as my daughter Maggie and I headed to my residency at The Hambidge Center for Creative Arts in the mountains of North Georgia. In… Read on

Created in 1934 by Mary Hambidge, the Hambidge Center for Creative Arts & Sciences is an artist community and sustainable farm in the Blue Ridge Mountains of Georgia, founded in memory of artist Jay Hambidge—Mary’s partner who introduced her to her life’s work, weaving. After retiring from work as a popular vaudeville whistler (with her… Read on

Design*Sponge founder Grace Bonney began the design blog in 2004—according to her, on her lunch breaks at the office. Grace worked at or freelanced for many of the big design magazines: Domino, House & Garden, Craft New York Home, Food & Wine, In Style, Better Homes and Gardens. And so, she took the leap and decided… Read on

I’ve recently been reading Brené Brown’s new book, Rising Strong. I’ve found so much good in the book, both for me personally and also for how we run our business. In any small (or young) business, you must have the courage to fall down, over and over again, and to “rise strong.” Because we aren’t perfect… Read on

Over the last five years, our work with Cathy Bailey and Robin Petravic has been some of the most productive, exciting, and meaningful work that we’ve had the opportunity to do. Robin and Cathy are husband and wife, parents to Jasper, writers of the new book, Tile Makes the Room, and the owners and operators… Read on

On the 18th of November last year, Natalie held a Facebook Chat about Design Process + Manufacturing as part of her EcoSalon Post titled: From Field to Fashion. Here is a synopsis of the conversation that unfolded.  Keep the conversation going in the comments section of this post and come back each week to read… Read on

Swatch of the Month Inspiration featuring Fabric Swatch in New Leaves White/Sand; Fabric Swatches in Abstract Concrete with Metallics and Tonal Paint; View of a display in Mary’s Weave Shed highlighting “Process in Work” by Natalie Chanin and Rachel K. Garceau. Photo: Rinne Allen; Loom in Mary’s Weave Shed highlighting “Process in Work” by Natalie… Read on

Left: Models in Project Alabama for Prom Night show, photographed by Billy Farrell for Patrick McMullen;  from left: Maxamilla, Ksenia, Camila, Jaja Tomorrow, the 21 Years Celebration continues to unfold with new entries from our archives, published articles, interviews, and essays. This week, we look at 2003—a year rife with collaborations and hear from more… Read on

Left: Early hand-sewn Alabama collection “Sister Shirt”, 2001, Natalie Chanin; Right: Film still portraits from the Life Ball awareness campaign, 1999, photography direction by Sissi Farassat; Location scouting photos, photographed by Wolfgang Tschofen, Vienna,1999, photograph by Robert Rausch On September 21, 2000, Natalie “Alabama” Chanin showed her first collection, a “project” that would become Alabama… Read on

Left: The Family of Woman: A World-Wide Photographic Perception of Female Life and Being published by Jerry Mason and Ridge Press; Right: Light Drawing by Rinne Allen featured in the Permission to Wander collection “If the beautiful were not in us, how would we ever recognize it?” —Ernst Haas Enjoy light reading and inspiration—from how trees communicate with one another to tile… Read on

September’s Swatch of the Month reflects on the creative process and journey in each of us. Using the New Leaves Stencil design, natural elements come into play and call back Natalie’s monthlong residency at the Hambidge Center in the north Georgia mountains during the summer of 2018. Register for Swatch of the Month here for… Read on

Rinne Allen, longtime friend and current collaborator, adopted the phrase “permission to wander” several years ago from her friend, artist Hope Hilton and Hope’s work. As Rinne told The Bitter Southerner, “I think many of us don’t allow ourselves idle time … permission to be idle. We think we have to fill most every hour with productivity. Deciding… Read on

“Deciding to give myself permission to wander—without a set outcome, destination, or expectation—has been a turning point in my creative process…a vital part of my seasonal rhythm.” —Rinne Allen Permission to Wander: A new capsule collection in collaboration with our friend and muse, Rinne Allen. Discover hand-painted designs and artisan-made objects to inspire (and carry… Read on

“Deciding to give myself permission to wander — without a set outcome, destination, or expectation — has been a turning point in my creative process and in my role as a mother of young children. It is now a vital part of my seasonal rhythm.”  – Rinne Allen for The Bitter Southerner  Rinne Allen is a… Read on

Left: “Plastic is Forever” by Barbara de Vries; right: “Portrait of Barbara de Vries”. Dutch artist and designer Barbara de Vries experienced what she calls her personal transformation while walking on the beach of Eleuthera in the Bahamas about 15 years ago. She noticed bright flecks of color within the sand and initially thought they were beautiful… Read on

From top left: “Rosanne Cash,” photograph by Clay Patrick McBride; Organic cotton needle roll made from fabric scraps; Left: “Mon Péché perfume bottle”, 1925 by Jeanne Lanvin; Right: “Evening gown”, 1929 by Jeanne Lanvin from Paris Haute Couture, 2012 by Olivier Saillard and Anne Zazzo (pages 52–53); May Swatch of the Month; The River and… Read on

“Both light and shadow are the dance of love.” – Rumi  From top left: Maggie’s Dream Poncho Kit; The Studio Bundle #1; Maggie’s Dream Fabric Detail; The Marie Cropped Car Jacket; Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes by Dana Thomas; and Maggie’s Dream Long Skirt Kit. At The School of Making,… Read on

Left: 150: “Werbefotogramm (advertising photogram) for the Goerz photochemical company”, 1925 by László Moholy-Nagy; 151: “Werbefotogramm (advertising photogram) for the Goerz photochemical company”, 1925 by László Moholy-Nagy; Right: 152: “K VII”, 1922 by László Moholy-Nagy; 153: “A XI”, 1923 by László Moholy-Nagy from Bauhaus 1919 – 1933: Workshops for Modernity by Barry Bergdoll, Leah Dickerman, Benjamin Buchloh, Brigid Doherty, Hal… Read on

Mix Tape: The Art of Cassette Culture, edited by Thurston Moore of the band Sonic Youth “After silence, that which comes nearest to expressing the inexpressible is music.” ― Aldous Huxley  Music is movement. It moves you into a new state of mind, moves you to dance, and gives you the space to move through… Read on

The most important thing is that you love what you are doing, and the second that you are not afraid of where your next idea will lead. – Charles Eames  At The School of Making, we preserve the Living Arts through educational and open source initiatives and programs. We work at the intersection of fashion,… Read on

“Lee Bontecou in her Wooster Street studio”, 1963 by Ugo Mulas.  Lee Bontecou was known to use her art to explore voids she found in society and within herself. She blended sculpture with paintings and drawings, often using unconventional materials and processes she developed for her work. She was known as being meticulous with each step in the creation… Read on

Image: Black Mountain College via OurState.com  “But most important to one’s own growth is to see oneself leave the safe ground of accepted conventions and to find oneself alone and self-dependent. It is an adventure which can permeate one’s whole being. Self-confidence can grow. And a longing for excitement can be satisfied without external means,… Read on

“The creative process of painting has given us lots of inspiration this spring. Watercolor softens the edges and blurs our perception. A softening of this moment feels very appropriate to me—like a balm for our time. Sometimes when working on a design, I will squint my eyes to better understand the relationship of a pattern… Read on

Born in India, the now-Raleigh, North Carolina-based chef Cheetie Kumar’s life in America began in the Bronx, New York. She and her family lived in a small apartment in an immigrant neighborhood, where she began to cultivate her new Indian-American identity. Her mother began introducing Cheetie to her culinary heritage at an early age, teaching… Read on

The Moth Radio Hour, founded in 1997, has a belief that listening to the stories of others can build community and widen our perspective, helping us realize what we have in common. Their podcast and live events provide platforms for these stories. Their recently released book, Occasional Magic: True Stories About Defying the Impossible, offers… Read on

“Any time one or more things are consciously put together in a way that they can accomplish something better than they could have accomplished individually, this is an act of design.” – Charles Eames Our collaborations and partnerships have spanned many years and have created deep connections with like-minded companies allowing us to grow, be… Read on

“This ‘ethical fashion,’ this ‘sustainable fashion,’ that complies to what fashion really is, that is borne out of passion, skills, heritage, artistry, and bravery, is fashion. “ — Orsola De Castro Alabama Chanin returned to New York Fashion Week this year with a private showing at the Bowery Hotel. This return inspired us to looks… Read on

“At the deepest level, the creative process and the healing process arise from a single source. When you are an artist, you are a healer.” — Dr. Rachel Naomi Remen Art can be as haunting as it is beautiful. It can be a reprieve from fears and traumas or the catalyst that forces you to… Read on

As a textile artist and designer, Elaine Lipson has spent much of her life exploring creative mediums and the fine arts. Born in Canada, Elaine has found a home (many, in fact) in the United States and spent time living in Chicago, New York, and San Francisco before settling in Colorado where she currently has… Read on

Marfa, Texas, has fascinated the American imagination since we saw James Dean cross our wide movie screens in 1956’s Giant. It can seem both stubbornly Texan and confoundingly trendy at times, but it actually holds a great deal of magic for those willing to make the journey. Liz Lambert’s El Cosmico is a campground wonderland… Read on

As part of the creative process, inspiration comes from sources both expected and unexpected. We have found that surrounding ourselves with creative and generous artists and individuals naturally motivates us to do better work. We have been lucky to build relationships with truly like-minded people with whom collaboration is easy—just natural extensions of our relationships…. Read on

John Paul White spent years of his life on the road. Formerly one-half of the prolific duo The Civil Wars, it was not unusual for him to spend 300-plus days a year on tour. Once that project came to an end, White returned home to Florence and began a period of centering himself, settling in… Read on

Looking back on 2015, it’s clear that this was the year of collaboration for Alabama Chanin. We expanded upon work that we have been creating with others for many years, added major new initiatives with new partners, and built upon our partnerships across all parts of our business. Partnership has always meant growth for Alabama… Read on

Those of you who frequent the Journal have read and learned about our Makeshift initiative—which is a series of events, talks, workshops, and gatherings that seek to get makers of different minds and from various fields in the same room together for discussion. As design and craft professions evolve, sometimes walls develop between the makers;… Read on

THE STORY Alabama on Alabama is a month-long journey to the soul of the Modern South, held in the Boiler Room and showroom at Heath in San Francisco. Refined, raw and radical, the Modern South connects place, people, process, and tradition in a way that cuts across geography and time. From July 24, 2015, the Boiler… Read on

Like the rest of the world, the fashion industry has widely utilized Instagram (the photo sharing app with over 300 million users) to share insider glimpses into brands and lives, highlight the creative process, and find simple ways to connect to followers. Brands and consumers are sharing personal, visual “moments” in their lives (of course,… Read on

In March of this year, we unexpectedly received an email with the subject line, “Asante Sana (Thank You) from Kenya!” It was sent by a woman named Nirvana, who is part of a team working to empower rural Kenyans with life and entrepreneurial skills. It seems that their goal is to inspire people to challenge… Read on

Join us this Monday at The Factory for the second lecture in our conversation series: On Design. Last month, Natalie spoke on the Bauhaus and the creative process. This month the conversation continues with a lecture about Charles and Ray Eames, husband and wife designers, and mid-century design. We’ve been finding inspiration from the timeless… Read on

Beginning  October 13th, 2014 and as part of our ongoing Makeshift conversation, Alabama Chanin will host a series of discussions and lectures about design, art, business, community, and plenty of other topics. Events will be held at the Factory on the second Monday of each month. The format will shift, depending on topic and presenter,… Read on

I have known many storytellers in my life. Some have a natural and unrehearsed style that feels captivating and immediate; some present new or unfamiliar points of view; others are quite deliberate and thoughtful in approach; all of them are enthralling to me. As a storyteller born into a family of storytellers, I find master… Read on

I feel a certain kinship with Vivian Howard, even though we’ve never met. We both left home at an early age, finding big lives and successful living elsewhere; we also both followed our inspirations as they directed us back to our regional homes, where we’ve found hard-won fulfillment. Vivian works with food as her medium,… Read on

Scout By Two is a collaboration of two artists, via Alabama and New York. Marisa Keris and Constance Sepulveda met while studying at the Rhode Island School of Design, and their shared aspiration to design and make products they’d use themselves led them to launch Scout By Two earlier this year. “Our mission is to… Read on

I’ve known Heather Ross for almost five years now. We first met in New York, at a show celebrating our collection based on the work of famed Alabama photographer Charles Moore.  Heather arrived with my editor, Melanie, and I was bowled over by her beauty AND her spirit. When Alabama Studio Style launched back in… Read on

Keeping a Record of It (Harmful Music), 1986, Lonnie Holley, Salvaged phonograph top, phonograph record, animal skull 13 3/4 x 15 3/4 x 9 inches, Courtesy of the Souls Grown Deep Foundation. Photo: Steve Pitkin Lonnie Holley, at the age of 63, is finally getting his proverbial moment in the sun. The artist’s second album,… Read on

The music industry as we once knew it has been forced to evolve rapidly in recent years, as technology has grown faster than established business models. Major record labels struggle to maintain control of the radio waves, music sales, artist development, and our ears; meanwhile, established artists like Radiohead and Beck have embraced the Internet,… Read on

We’ve been talking about friend and collaborator Anna Maria Horner all week, featuring a DIY A-line Tunic with her Little Flowers stencil, a Greek lunch in her honor, and a review of her new book, Anna Maria’s Needleworks Notebook, which we wrote about on Monday promising a giveaway later in the week. Details below on… Read on

I first saw Tilleke Schwarz’s work in an exhibition called Pricked: Extreme Embroidery at the Museum of Arts & Design in New York. The needlework was displayed proudly as contemporary art by extraordinary female artists. Boundaries were pushed as textile art was made. Friend, Maira Kalman, also had work on view. Tilleke’s work resonated with… Read on

My first sewing project was a “picture” of a flower that I made when I was about seven. I chose green and purple ribbon for the stem and petals, respectively, and a white button for the bloom’s center, which I attached to a square of quilted light blue Swiss dot fabric – aka the sky… Read on

“Sustainability is the forerunner of greater diversity and choice, not less.” – Paul Hawken In the book Fashion & Sustainability: Design for Change, our friends Kate Fletcher and Lynda Grose tackle the issue of sustainability in the fashion world. Within its pages you will discover practices that have the potential to transform the fashion system… Read on

In the autumn of last year, I was contacted by a New York University professor from the Liberal Studies department named Jessamyn Hatcher.  She had gotten my email address from our mutual friend Sally Singer and wanted to know if we would be willing to discuss a field trip that she was planning with her… Read on

Each time I speak publicly, I am invariably asked about the process of publishing or our Alabama Studio Book Series. After poking around on the internet I was surprised to discover that while writers are often interviewed about their books, there are very few interviews with the editors.  Our editor, Melanie – whose desk is pictured above… Read on

I am very excited to be included in this seminar and looking forward to visiting Stavanger and seeing The World of Folk exhibition: International Design Seminar – Folk Futures With: Li Edelkoort, Tord Boontje, Natalie Chanin, Dick van Hoff, Hella Jongerius, Peter Marigold, Mike Meiré, Fernando & Humberto Campana. As part of this summer’s A… Read on

Today, on Giving Tuesday, we highlight an organization whose work, like Alabama Chanin, is rooted in textiles and community: Project Threadways.    Project Threadways is a nonprofit that records, studies, and explores the history of textiles. Through their work, they seek to understand and document the impact that textiles and their creation had on our local community in… Read on

Left: “African Burial Ground”, 2009; right: “Meanderings of an Imaginary River”, 2020 by Valerie S. Goodwin  This Thursday: Exhibition + Opening featuring fiber artist Valerie S. Goodwin | Florence, Alabama   Valerie Goodwin is a mixed media fiber artist, architect, and educator whose fine art works are included in museums and private collections. She has received degrees… Read on

For many of us, September 11th, 2001 is a time stamp—creating a definite threshold of before or after. I have children and grandchildren who were born into a post-9/11 world. Though they will never have a before, they watch the chilling documentaries, see the heavy news coverage each year on its anniversary, and hear our… Read on

Swatch of the Month inspiration featuring Fern Stencil artwork; Plain Cake Yarn by Madelinetosh; Grid of fabric swatches testing tonal paint with Fern Stencil, Laura Zander, CEO of Madelinetosh with Plain Cake yarn; August’s Swatch of the Month; Cake stand from Alabama Studio Style; Photograph by Robert Rausch With a focus of building community through… Read on

Today, National Nonprofit Day, recognizes the efforts nonprofits and charities put into making an impact in their communities. In 2019, Natalie, CEO and creative director of Alabama Chanin, continued her commitment to textiles and community by founding Project Threadways. Learn more about the organization below and ways to support them here.   Project Threadways is a nonprofit that records,… Read on

Inspiration featuring from top left: “i just want a love that bends / a love that wins / an honest friend ” from Bird on a Blade by Rosanne Cash and Dan Rizzie (pages 18–19); Photograph of Rosanne Cash by Clay Patrick McBride; Maggie’s Dream Top Kit; May Swatch of the Month Detail; Studio Bundle #2; Bird… Read on

In 2017, we featured Kathy Hattori of Botanical Colors in our Indigo Stories series on The Journal (among many other movers and shakers in the natural dye world). For our new readers, we revisit her background, her work with Alabama Chanin, and share the mission of Botanical Colors—with who we’ve recently collaborated on for our capsule collection of… Read on

The earliest days of Alabama Chanin’s website mostly consisted of Natalie teaching herself web-publishing in her (almost nonexistent) free time. She saw it as a way to express elements of who Alabama Chanin was without literally stitching it onto a garment – though we actually did that, too. Because of this tinkering and self-teaching, Alabama Chanin stepped into the e-commerce world in… Read on

After winning the CFDA/Lexus Eco-Fashion Challenge in 2013, Natalie shared that “part of the appeal of being a designer, for me, is the act of bringing not only products but also systems of making to life.”  It’s not about the end, but rather, the entire. Under Natalie’s creative direction, the Alabama Chanin production, design, and… Read on

Thank you to Laird Borrelli-Persson and Vogue for including Alabama Chanin in their recent article, The United States of Fashion. Read the excerpt below and view the entire story here.   “Twenty years ago, Natalie Chanin returned home to Florence, Alabama, to reconnect with her roots and the hand-makers there for what was to be a one-off project. She never… Read on

Launched in 2006, the Alabama Chanin Journal celebrates the art of storytelling. This weekend we look back at our top Journal stories of 2020, starting today with The School of Making. This year, above all, we’ve learned from our readers about the importance of connection, inspiration, and making.  Check back tomorrow for Alabama Chanin’s 2020… Read on

The holiday season inspires ways that we can show generosity, express gratitude, give back, and support others— oftentimes through charitable giving. Today, on Giving Tuesday, we highlight an organization whose work, like Alabama Chanin, is rooted in textiles: Project Threadways.   Project Threadways is a nonprofit that records, studies, and explores the history of textiles. Through their work, they… Read on

From top left: “Shots from “Case Study House #8; Eames House”, 1949 by Charles and Ray Eames from Eames: Beautiful Details, 2012 by Eames Demetrios and Charles Eames, edited by Gloria Flower and Steve Crist (pages 374–375); The Willie Top and Celia Florence Skirt from Alabama Chanin; “Embroidery Design”, 1885 by May Morris via the Victoria… Read on

We have long turned to Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. when making our custom cocktails at home and for our Friends of the Café dinner series at The Factory. Jack Rudy was founded by Brooks Reitz (husband to our designer Erin Reitz) in 2010. Since that time, Brooks has slowly grown a small food and beverage empire that continues to… Read on

Since 2012 and in January of each year, the team at Alabama Chanin, The School of Making, Building 14, and our Family of Businesses undertakes strategic planning for the year. This process was learned from our dear friend Ari at the Zingerman’s Community of Businesses and ZingTrain. Over the years, our process has changed and… Read on

Pumpkin carving has a deep-rooted history in American culture. Whether you are a fan of the traditional butcher knife or more fine-tuned supplies for more detailed carving, today there are specialized carving tools available from a range of sources. Martha Stewart, a lover of all things Halloween, has brought pumpkin carving to a new level, offering creative… Read on

Pat Hammond has an incredible kite collection; she has assembled a group of hundreds of kites over the last couple of decades. They have been gathered from all over the world and showcased in the Smithsonian and the Museum of Modern Art. Author Christopher Ornelas discovered Hammond’s work and documented her process and collections in… Read on

Every year it seems that we say what a busy year it has been for us at Alabama Chanin, and every year we mean it. We seem to keep growing as a company and as people and making opportunities that expand our horizons. Look back at the 2018 happenings for The School of Making, Bldg…. Read on

Over the years, we have tried to create various ways to put our scrap fabric to good use and to inspire our fellow makers to do the same. We studied the zero waste design techniques of Dr. Timo Rissanen to understand how the patternmaking process could be streamlined. What is left after our garments are… Read on

During June 2018, Natalie took month-long respite and creative journey during her residency at The Hambidge Center in the woods of north Georgia. She reflects on her time there and shares her experience for which she is eternally grateful: In the summer of 2017, I was going through what will always be known to me… Read on

Iona Gonsalves moved to Savannah, Georgia, from India in 2008 to attend the Savannah College of Art and Design where she received her bachelor’s and master’s degrees with a focus on textiles. She relocated to Florence last year to begin her work at Alabama Chanin and her life here in Florence. She is learning about… Read on

Now a member of our production team, Ryan Laine began working at Alabama Chanin in The Factory Café in 2016. Over time, she expressed interest in the making process, and she transitioned to the cutting department where she cuts the garment patterns for our hand-sewn garments and DIY Kits. Ryan was born and raised in Florence… Read on

Our last Craftsy virtual learning class—The Swing Skirt: Techniques & Construction—has been very popular among our community of makers, and because of it, we’ve welcomed many new followers. We were often asked on the class discussion board for more instruction, and our newest class—Creative Embellishments—released this past Tuesday. The course covers four key stitches and… Read on

First published in 1965, Anni Albers’ seminal book, On Weaving, is both a thoughtful meditation on the art of weaving and a beautiful photographic collection of historical craftsmanship. Albers, who we have written about in the past (and used as inspiration for some of our own work) was part of the Bauhaus movement and one… Read on

This month, we began expanding our jewelry options with unique porcelain cameo rings and pendants designed and created by Marcie McGoldrick. The New York-based artist spent 16 years working at Martha Stewart Omnimedia—starting as a product developer for the “Martha by Mail” catalog, before transitioning to craft editor for Martha Stewart publications, and eventually to… Read on

Photographer and artist, Rinne Allen lives and works in Athens, Georgia (though she also travels the world taking pictures. Follow her on Instagram for a glimpse.) She is deeply committed to her community, having co-founded a children’s school for creative arts and working with the University of Georgia on special arts programming. It’s an understatement… Read on

In the earliest years of this company, Natalie Chanin was a “design team” of one—one person to dream and research and sketch and make. While she was lucky to have a talented team to consult with (people like Diane Hall and Steven Smith), the heavy lifting was done by a single person. As Alabama Chanin… Read on

As part of an ongoing exploration into indigo and other natural dyes, we are spotlighting artists we consider to be experts in the field—including Scott Peacock, Donna Hardy, and today, Kathy Hattori. Kathy is one of the founders of Botanical Colors, a well-respected source of materials, support, and educational offerings for those seeking to employ… Read on

Hugh Acheson is a practical man. He’s witty and inventive, too, but he has the ability to cut through nonsense like a hot knife through butter. Hugh opened his Athens, Georgia-based flagship restaurant 5 & 10 in 2000 and followed in 2007 with a second space, The National. He has since opened the Atlanta-based Empire… Read on

One of the most fantastic things about surrounding yourself with creative people is that you are constantly inspired and challenged to look at ideas through new and ingenious lenses. Rinne Allen, a frequent collaborator, is someone who has a special skill for capturing moments—details that other people may not see. This quality has made our… Read on

We’ve stated before how much our maker community continues to inspire us, and we’ve been so excited to see how you’ve used our programs and patterns to expand your creativity throughout the past year. Host a Party opened up new opportunities for reaching out in your own communities and teaching sustainable practices in a way… Read on

As a female business owner, Natalie is constantly asked questions about what it is like to be a woman AND entrepreneur, what it takes to start a company from scratch, and how to “have it all.” I hope that we have been able to dispel the “having it all” myth, but even now—after a decade… Read on

Though the actual German Bauhaus school technically existed for a mere 14 years, its legacy undoubtedly continues to expand and flourish. The school, active during the years of the Weimar Republic, sought to unite artists of all disciplines in a utopian goal of designing a new world. Until broken up by the Nazis in 1933,… Read on

Collection #30 was introduced—with the thought to combine machine- and hand-made pieces into the same line—as these garments are created using the same production processes, the same fabric, the same design team, and the same approach. From a design and development point-of-view, we now see that there should have never been a separation of the… Read on

We’re always on the lookout for companies and businesses that align with our values and principles—and we can’t emphasize enough how important it is to purchase domestically produced goods made with ethical, sustainable practices. Our collaborations with Patagonia and Heath Ceramics are perfect examples. This year, in support of other small businesses, we’re celebrating Independence… Read on

Anyone who has ever attempted to make a garment quickly understands that the most important element of the final product is how well a garment fits. Tailoring is the art of designing, fitting, fabricating, and finishing garments. The word “tailor”, which first appeared in the Oxford Dictionary in 1297, comes from a French word—tailler—meaning “to… Read on

I met Dr. Timo Rissanen several years ago, just as he was taking on the role of Assistant Professor of Fashion Design and Sustainability at Parsons School of Design. He is a pioneer in zero waste design, co-authoring Zero Waste Fashion Design with Holly McQuillan. If you’ve not heard of Zero waste, this genre of… Read on

For as long as we’ve known about their existence, we have been in love with Heath Ceramics. Their philosophies, their processes, their intentions—all align closely with our own. Our collaboration with Heath is our longest collaboration, dating back to 2011. When we partnered for our first collection together, they worked diligently to interpret the work… Read on

In 1984, author Cara Greenberg wrote a book on home and furniture design from the 1950s, coining the phrase “mid-century modern” —which she also used it as the title, Mid-Century Modern: Furniture of the 1950s. I recently unearthed this long-lost beauty of a book while reorganizing our studio library. Mid-Century Modern exemplifies the pinnacle of… Read on

I’m going to ask for forgiveness in advance as this post is going to ramble. There is a lot to say and, at face value, parts of the story don’t seem to have any relevance to one another. Bear with me—I need to let the story unfold. I’ve numbered the facts to help you follow… Read on

New Years’ Eve is a big (if quiet) night for me. It’s been a long time since I was that girl that danced until sunrise. These days I’m much more into getting up at sunrise, writing, scheming, drinking coffee, and, on some days, simply cleaning house. That being said, I’ve very often had big changes… Read on

This has been a year of great achievement, great loss, great beauty, great sadness, and great friendships; but through it all I have been repeatedly reminded of the gift of family. At this time of year, I think we all look forward to looking homeward and to family—whatever home and family may mean for us…. Read on

In October, when Martha Stewart American Made announced the winners of their 2015 American Made Awards, we were thrilled to see a familiar face among the 10 honorees—our sock making collaborator, Little River Sock Mill. The American Made awards were developed a few years ago as a way to spotlight and support creative entrepreneurs and… Read on

In the northwest corner of Alabama it sometimes feels like we are in our own little world (or, perhaps, just in our own little state of mind); we have our own way of doing things. This area boasts a beautiful terrain, unpredictable weather, its own unique musical sound, white barbecue sauce, and, of course, chicken… Read on

The source of creativity can be confounding. Artists have been famously driven by mystical or divine inspiration, obsessive love, depression, or self-exploration. Some artists are prolific; Picasso supposedly produced over 13,000 paintings and 100,000 prints. Others struggle openly, like author Fran Lebowitz whose writer’s block was so famously long that she called it “writer’s blockade.”… Read on

Our first collaboration with Heath Ceramics, launched in 2011, has built a lasting, creatively symbiotic relationship. That joint development was a beautifully intensive design process that blended our techniques with theirs. Our Heath + Alabama Chanin line of dinnerware is made by hand, just like our Alabama Chanin handmade Collection. The artisans at Heath etch… Read on

Two weeks ago we introduced Jones Valley Teaching Farm and the work they are doing with schools and in classrooms across Birmingham. With programs like Good School Food, Farm Lab, and Seed to Plate, they are providing food-based, hands-on, experimental education and design-thinking strategies for students in Pre-K to 12th grades. Their practices are sustainable… Read on

“Eventually everything connects – people, ideas, objects. The quality of the connections is the key to quality, per se.” – Charles Eames Our first official On Design conversation and event centered on the Bauhaus—founded in 1919 by architect Walter Gropius. This movement’s core objective was a radical concept: to reimagine the material world to reflect… Read on

Roman Alonso, Steven Johanknecht, Pamela Shamshiri, and Ramin Shamshiri are Commune—an inter-disciplinary collective of artists that work in the design realm. Commune is a design firm, but they are also much more than that; they invent moods and spaces for residential clients and for public space, design graphics and branding concepts, and create products that… Read on

During Makeshift 2012, we dedicated a portion of one event to “Worn Stories,” a concept defined and documented by Emily Spivack that explores the stories and emotional attachments surrounding our clothing. Jessamyn Hatcher introduced us to Emily and her work about the relationships we create with our garments and the rich memories we associate with… Read on

Based in Charleston, South Carolina, The Local Palate is a food culture publication that celebrates the region’s best culinary figures, recipes, and processes. The magazine has recently launched their digital presence, resulting in a beautiful, easy-to-navigate, and delicious website. From The Local Palate website: Food in the south is intrinsically connected to life in the… Read on

Over the past months, we have been exploring heirlooms through ongoing Journal posts. Our intention is to look at the things we hold dear and examine how we find meaning in our personal heirlooms and mementos—even if those things don’t necessarily have great monetary value. The Heirloom series is meant to celebrate things that last… Read on

This month, we offer our second installment on creative cocktails from Jesse Goldstein on the often overlooked of beauty lavender as a flavor. Hopefully you will be inspired to experiment with your own infusions to create spirits with complex, but delicious, flavors. While the idea of infusing herbs and botanicals into spirits may seem to… Read on

Alabama Chanin will host our final “Friends of the Café” Dinner of the 2014 season next Friday evening. The creative team from Jim ‘N Nick’s Community Bar-B-Q, including Nicholas Pikakis and Drew Robinson, will be on hand to direct the menu. I find it amazing that Jim ‘N Nick’s currently operates over 30 restaurants across… Read on

Previously, I shared the story of my first encounter with Jill Dumain of Patagonia. Meeting Jill and hearing her speak not only opened my eyes to the good work that company was going; it opened my eyes to what is possible. Years of conversation finally resulted in a collaboration between Alabama Chanin and Patagonia, as… Read on

I’ve written many times about my friend and multi-talented musician Tift Merritt. She is a singer/songwriter, guitarist, pianist, and creative spirit. Her podcast The Spark with Tift Merritt is a conversation about integrity and process, and features some of the most creative minds of our age, including Rosanne Cash, Andrew Bird, and Kiki Smith (among… Read on

At Alabama Chanin, we believe DIY projects are integral to sharing creativity and promoting sustainable heirloom-worthy pieces. Bibliocraft: A Modern Crafter’s Guide to Using Library Resources to Jumpstart Creative Projects is a great guide to DIY crafts that utilize a range of library resources for inspiration. Written by rare book librarian Jessica Pigza, this book… Read on

Thank you to the Southern Foodways Alliance for allowing us to share “She Spoke, and I Listened” as told to oral historian Sara Wood by Haylene Green. From Gravy Issue #50: The evening I met Haylene Green, an urban farmer in Atlanta, Georgia, rain mercilessly poured on midtown Atlanta—and on me. I squeaked across the… Read on

The Momofuku restaurant group started up in 2004 as a postage stamp-sized ramen noodle bar in New York City’s East Village. It garnered a following rather quickly for the innovative ramen dishes and simple, but incredibly addictive, pork buns. At the helms of chef-owner David Chang, Momofuku steadily grew over the years to include numerous… Read on

This stuffed bunny rabbit is Alabama Chanin’s version of the old-time childhood favorite, the sock monkey. My grandmother used to make sock monkeys for all the children in our family. Each one she made took its own personality and looked different from the others. Our DIY Bunny Rabbit doll is an easy project to complete,… Read on

Cemetery Shadow, 2012 Contributor Phillip March Jones, introduces us to artist and photographer Lina Tharsing, who currently has an exhibition of her paintings on display at Poem 88 in Atlanta through October 19, 2013. A few years ago, Walgreens launched a clever promotion for a reusable film camera in a world full of digital devices…. Read on

Heather Wylie is the daughter of Alabama Chanin friend and mentor Terry Wylie, and a welcome creative force in our shared factory space on Lane Drive. Heather is recently graduated from Parsons School of Design in New York, where she earned an MFA in Design and Technology. She learned printmaking as an undergrad at the… Read on

Kristen Wentrcek is the founder, owner, designer, and creative director of Wintercheck Factory, a Brooklyn, New York, manufacturer producing American-made, design-focused goods for living. Wintercheck Factory began designing and manufacturing furniture in 2009 and soon after, expanded into soft goods, including apparel, accessories, and home goods with a balance of aesthetic and functionality. During MAKESHIFT… Read on

At Alabama Chanin, we practice Slow Design, which focuses on producing goods in a socially and environmentally responsible manner. The intent is to design clothing and home goods that are made from sustainable raw materials using environmentally sound methods, resulting in beautiful, healthy, and long-lasting products. We want to create connections with our customers and… Read on

There may be no more relevant time than now to talk about Slow Design, specifically Slow Fashion, as the body count in a collapsed garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh – a factory that churned out Fast Fashion for American consumers – surpasses 900. As we prepare to travel to New York for MAKESHIFT 2013 to discuss… Read on

This week, we highlight the Finnish design company, Marimekko. As a long-standing leader in the fashion and design worlds, Marimekko has created timeless and colorful prints for over 60 years. I’ve followed the company from my days at NC State University and, as a designer, I have deep admiration and respect for Armi Ratia, the… Read on

We spend a good bit of time in the kitchen, planning meals and testing out new recipes to share, while I spend evenings trying to please the taste buds of my picky eater. I’ve found that kitchen twine has a number of uses, including trussing or tying meat when cooking or when you want to… Read on

Writer, artist, and curator Phillip March Jones’s latest book, Points of Departure, is a collection of roadside memorial Polaroids depicting scenes of reality, often stark eulogies on road sides, highways, and Interstates, that we routinely speed by in our busy lives. The collection demonstrates an irony between our hurried motion and the absoluteness of departure… Read on

Update: The class is no longer available on Craftsy due to the discontinued pattern; however, Natalie does teach additional online courses that you can find on Craftsy and Creativebug.  Heirlooms aren’t created overnight, and it’s the time that goes into embellishing and constructing an artisanal garment that gives life to its one-of-a-kind beauty. Join me,… Read on

You know how we at Alabama Chanin feel about open sourcing. We offer our techniques and the information necessary to recreate our products, should you decide that you want to do-it-yourself. After three books, countless DIY Kits, and an amazing array of workshops, we have learned some important things: people will take your ideas and… Read on

This year saw our Journal take a more structured tone and we devoted particular days to particular topics. Wednesday’s became Recipe Wednesday and we worked to get ourselves organized and cook. EVERY WEEK.  It was quite a feat of organization since we also run the production office, online store, design, pay bills, and as I… Read on

I have to note that we started writing holiday posts about wreath making before the tragic massacre at Sandy Hook Elementary School last Friday morning.  It is incomprehensible for all of us to understand how that community will make it through the upcoming holiday season and beyond.  For me, senseless tragedy can rarely be fully… Read on

There’s a cluster of Polaroids in our production office that never fail to captivate our visitors, and even though they’ve been there for the better part of a decade we still find ourselves staring. They’re so beautiful. It’s hard to look away. Those Polaroids are from our first fashion show— 8 years ago—a cast of… Read on

This summer Kristine Vejar, founder of A Verb for Keeping Warm (one of the first stores to sell our fabrics and supplies in a retail setting), began a project that encourages each of us to make 25% of our wardrobe. Simply stated, this means 1 out of every 4 garments in your closet should be handmade-… Read on

Crocheting was one of my first creative outlets, once I felt the distinct urge to make. When I had a crochet hook in hand, making hats, scarves, bags, whatever I might need, the process came to me like second nature.  Often, I couldn’t find patterns to fit what I needed so I ended up making… Read on

Every summer in our part of the world is hot, so hot that you barely want to move. And this summer seems particularly, endlessly hot. By the end of August, we will all be looking forward to the coolness that comes with fall. Until then, Maggie and I are cooling off with afternoon dips in… Read on

From the Creativebug Website: “Reverse applique is the signature look of Natalie’s designs at Alabama Chanin. Natalie demystifies the process in this workshop, showing you how to add depth and texture to a cotton table runner. The technique is worked on two layers of fabric, with the top layer stenciled and then stitched to the… Read on

As part of MAKESHIFT, we collaborated on a pop-up shop with the Billy Reid team in their New York store. The shop was called ‘Crafting Fashion,’ and featured hand-crafted garments, hats, shoes, jewelry, and home décor from seasoned designers who pair fashion and craft beautifully. We encourage you to join with crafters, makers, and artists to… Read on

Thanks to everyone who came out for our Visiting Artist Series with Faythe Levine. It proved to be a fantastic evening of crafting, conversation, and Old-Fashioneds. In addition to the interactive crafting that ensued, Faythe held a seminar where she lectured on ‘Craftivism’, her work and travels (examples include urban camping in Detroit and a… Read on

Shakerag Workshops have been taking place on the campus of St. Andrew’s-Sewanee School for some eight years now. Among the rolling hills of the Cumberland Plateau, Shakerag operates as a community where artists + those eager to learn a craft come together in a creative learning environment. Similar to our sewing workshops, the instructors work closely… Read on

Check out our post today @ EcoSalon: Sewing for Humankind There was a time – not so long ago on humanity’s calendar – that sewing was not considered “women’s work,” but rather a tool for survival. Hunter/gatherers looking for food on a cold winter’s day, some miles from their camp, might have a shoe wear… Read on

In follow-up to our EcoSalon post last Friday on Punks + Pirates, Alabama Chanin (AC) held a Facebook chat with Richard McCarthy (RM) of Market Umbrella to explore his interesting perspective on cultural assets, punks, pirates and the Spanish Armada.  I was first made aware of Richard’s work at the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium last… Read on

I had the opportunity to meet Michiel Schwarz last September when I spoke at the Hello Etsy conference in Berlin.   His purpose at the conference was to present his concept and book: Sustainism: A Cultural Manifesto for the Sustainist Era. The New York Times did a fantastic review of the book – calling out its… Read on

There has been such a buzz around the studio these last weeks as we prepare for the holidays. So much buzz, in fact, that I have not really had time to sit down with our new book,  Alabama Studio Sewing + Design. Last night, I remedied that with a quiet house, a  cocktail, and my… Read on

Those of you who follow us on Twitter, Facebook and/or Tumblr, know that I was in New Mexico over the holidays. What resulted from this adventure was a love for the west and an understanding of why so many artists and creative types have settled to work there.  I was deeply impacted by the beauty,… Read on

In 2006, Leslie Hoffman of Earth Pledge asked me to write a short paper for inclusion in their Future Fashion White Papers.   I recently came across the volume while browsing my library and the essay stirred up so many memories from that time.  As the last of my tomatoes drop to the ground, I wanted… Read on

While working on my own wabi-sabi this week, I came across the work of friend Carolyn Strauss and her partner in slowLab – Alastair Fuad-Luke – on page 30-31 of Simply Imperfect: Revisiting the Wabi-Sabi House. I was reminded of the importance of these six principles: 1. Reveal:  Slow design reveals spaces and experiences in… Read on

Biographies, philosophy, design, recipes, and all the subjects in-between are the stuff of my dreams. I would venture to say that I’ve found a treasure beginning with most library call numbers, and, of course, do my best not to judge any book by its cover. To say my love affair with reading is an important… Read on

I felt reluctant to continue writing about my detox after the first post as I thought that it could be, frankly, a bit boring. Each of us has visited a site where the writer has a fondness to overshare about their eating habits and diet: each morsel eaten, photos of unmentionable detox attributes, things that… Read on

I own a lot of books on pattern design but British Textiles – published by V&A – is one of the loveliest I have seen for a long time. (It was at the bottom of the pile yesterday but is on top today.) The book highlights woven and printed fabric (embroidery is planned for an… Read on

Although Allegra Hicks: An Eye for Design has been laying on my coffee table for months, it seemed the perfect opportunity to dive in on this cold, cold evening. (Thanks to Abrams for sending along a review copy.) Sitting with a glass of wine in front on the fire, I find Allegra’s colors and textures… Read on

One day a small and unassuming envelope arrived at the office addressed to me. Inside was a card with the words “a year of gratefulness” beautifully embossed into white card stock. On the back, a small typewritten note was affixed: “this is my year of gratefulness. I am writing two letters a month, one to… Read on

I am a few years late since the book was published in 2006.  In my defense, there is a pile of books that move from bedside to coffee table to the office and back again on a regular basis.  Do you know that feeling? While I am an avid reader, there is a little problem… Read on

When I first thought about the blog tour for Alabama Studio Style, I did not realize what a great opportunity this was going to be to travel the world, connect with some of my favorite people and experience life from my own beautiful table. Now, half-way through, I am awed by deep, thoughtful questions, the… Read on

I am, obviously, a bit behind in my efforts at blogging.  Or maybe there has just been so much good recently.    Either way, this great Op-Ed was sent to me by my friend Matthew from Savannah. It reminds me of Outliers: The Story of Success by Malcolm Gladwell – which I have been heard to… Read on

I keep thinking, over and over again, about this quote that I read on Treehugger.com in the midst of the Earth Day celebrations: “Writing in Mother Jones, Joel Makower waves the white flag. Green consumerism, it seems, was one of those well-intended passing fancies, testament to Americans’ never-ending quest for simple quick, and efficient solutions… Read on

Bravo to Cathy and Robin @ Heath for their commitment to quality, exceptional design, and community. From The New York Times: April 23, 2009, A Label of Pride That Pays By TRACEY TAYLOR In a timeworn factory in Sausalito, Calif., 67 workers turn out Heath ceramics, doing everything from mixing the clay to applying the finishing… Read on

Here is another new book from STC and this one very different from The Gentle Art of Domesticity. Lena Corwin has created the definitive book for the process of stamping, printing and stenciling by hand. This book is a great companion to our Alabama Studio Sewing Series as it goes in depth to simply explain… Read on

I had the opportunity to visit all the folks at Patagonia yesterday. What an amazing group of people, an amazing place, and an amazing company. From the ladies in the sewing room to their organic cafeteria, I was floored at the knowledge, care and passion that infuse their lives. Patagonia has long been an inspiration… Read on