Search Results for: fashion revolution

April 24, 2018
FASHION REVOLUTION WEEK
Fashion Revolution Week is part of the year-round Fashion Revolution movement that encourages consumers to look more deeply into the fashion industry, with the ultimate intention of making clothing in a safe, clean, and fair way, the norm – across the world. This year, Fashion Revolution Week runs from April 23 – 29th and it… Read on

April 24, 2017
FASHION REVOLUTION WEEK: #WHOMADEMYCLOTHES
The global fashion industry is notoriously opaque, and it depends upon exploitation of workers and environmentally damaging practices. It is an issue that we’ve spoken of many times and one that drives us to do our very best to remain as transparent in our methods and materials as possible. But for us, there is also… Read on

April 24, 2014
FASHION REVOLUTION DAY + DIY ETCHED CANDLES
Today, April 24, is the one-year anniversary of the Rana Plaza factory collapse in Dhaka, Bangladesh. It has also been declared Fashion Revolution Day—celebrating best practices in the fashion industry and raising awareness of the true cost of fast fashion. In homage to the anniversary, we etched wax candles with our Anna’s Garden and Bloomers… Read on

November 18, 2020
PEABODY ESSEX MUSEUM + MADE IT: THE WOMEN WHO REVOLUTIONIZED FASHION EXHIBITION
Featured in Made It: The Women Who Revolutionized Fashion exhibition. From top left: “Gilded Sapphire Celia Tunic”, 2019 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, “Beaded Facets Coat”, 2006 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, “Beaded Facets Coat Detail”, 2006 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, “Sapphire Dot Leighton Skirt”, 2019 by 2019 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, “Sapphire Dot Leighton Skirt Detail” 2019 2019 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin, and Lee Dress, 2017; Top right:… Read on

November 11, 2020
THE WOMEN WHO REVOLUTIONIZED FASHION: 250 YEARS OF DESIGN
The Women Who Revolutionized Fashion: 250 Years of Design, 2020 by Peabody Essex Museum in collaboration with Kunstmuseum Den Haag and Rizzoli Electa, edited by Petra Slinkard. Fashion was, is, and will likely always be a way to differentiate oneself in a world that often feels most comfortable with sameness and conformity. If clothing is indeed the “armor” that Bill Cunningham firmly believed it… Read on

September 8, 2020
#WFH FASHION, VOGUE, AND HOPE
A warm “thank you” to Laird Borrelli-Persson and Vogue for interviewing Natalie and including Alabama Chanin in their recent article, “How the #WFH Movement Could Reshape Fashion.” Read excerpts below and view the entire story here. Also big love to Vogue for uniting all 26 global magazine editions with a forward-looking theme of ‘hope’. (If… Read on

January 8, 2020
FASHIONOPOLIS: THE PRICE OF FAST FASHION AND THE FUTURE OF CLOTHES BY DANA THOMAS
In her book, Fashionopolis: The Price of Fast Fashion and the Future of Clothes, author Dana Thomas explores the heart of the modern fashion world – exposing a fundamentally broken system, while also highlighting those who are developing solutions to deep-seated problems, and offering options for consumers on how to improve their shopping habits. Thomas writes in… Read on

May 27, 2014
REFASHIONED
Sass Brown’s ReFashioned: Cutting Edge Clothing From Upcycled Materials, is the second in a series focusing on the eco-fashion movement. Previously, in Eco Fashion, she examined designers and labels (including Alabama Chanin) practicing sustainability in the fashion industry. In ReFashioned, she features 46 international designers who create using recycled and upcycled textiles. The result is… Read on

January 9, 2014
ECO FASHION
In the book Eco Fashion, our friend Sass Brown celebrates and examines designers and labels practicing sustainability in the fashion industry, including Alabama Chanin (you might have recognized our hand-sewn garment featured on the cover). Sass offers several definitions for eco fashion—from slow design and traditional techniques to recycled, reused, and redesigned methods—and explores ecological… Read on

April 29, 2013
PUNKS, DIY, AND FASHION
Last January, we had several conversations in our studio about punks and pirates spurred by Richard McCarthy’s analogy about pirates and “big food.” Just last week, the conversation continued in our studio about how the underground punk movement changed the way music was produced and delivered to the listening public. (More on this coming in… Read on

March 12, 2008
EVOLUTION/REVOLUTION
The Arts and Crafts in Contemporary Fashion and Textiles William Morris said, “Have nothing in your houses that you do not know to be useful, or believe to be beautiful.” This is the essence of the Arts and Crafts Movement. Joanne Ingersoll and The Museum of Art at the Rhode Island School of Design have… Read on

November 16, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 46/52 | 2020
From top left: “Dress for Mary Todd Lincoln”, 1861 by Elizabeth Keckley (pages 30–31); Evening dresses by Madeleine Vionnet, 1930–31 (pages 48–49); Afternoon dress; evening dress; ensemble; evening dress, 1930–31 by Jeanne Lanvin (pages 52–53); Left: Ensembles, 2018 by Mary Katrantzou; Right: Ensembles for Chloé, 2015–17 by Clare Waight Keller (pages 136–137); Left: “Dress by… Read on

July 3, 2018
MANUFACTURING OUR WAY
It is almost impossible for us to believe, but we have reached the fifth anniversary of the creation of Bldg. 14 – the manufacturing arm of Alabama Chanin. This has been one of our most collaborative enterprises and represents the elements of what our company stands for: sustainability, creativity, design innovation, promoting the living arts,… Read on

April 29, 2018
#IMADEYOURCLOTHES: PENNY
Penny Sandy joined Bldg. 14 this year and comes to us with a lifetime of sewing experience. She was born and raised in our community, learning to sew from her grandmother at a very young age. And while she moved away for a bit, Penny found her way back home. (That seems to be a… Read on

April 27, 2018
#IMADEYOURCLOTHES: RYAN
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

April 26, 2018
#IMADEYOURCLOTHES: VICTORIA
Victoria McCoy grew up and was home-schooled in Huntsville, a city in northern Alabama located near Florence. She moved to Florence in 2010 to go to college where she received her degree in psychology from the University of North Alabama. Victoria uses her sewing skills to create costumes for local theater groups and is also… Read on

April 25, 2018
#IMADEYOURCLOTHES: LUDA
Luda Matmurtova has been a member of our production team since 2013. She moved to our community from Uzbekistan nine years ago and has incredible hand sewing and embroidery skills. Luda loves to bake cakes and meat pies, and we often find a freshly made dessert in our staff kitchen from her. She is an… Read on

April 23, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 17/52 | 2018
“Demand quality, not just in the products you buy, but in the life of the person who made it.” – Orsola de Castro, co-founder of Fashion Revolution Loss of life and destruction of natural resources have been the tolls paid by society for its reckless and exorbitant consumerism. “Fast fashion” and its lack of consideration… Read on

April 24, 2015
#whomademyclothes
Ask yourself, “Who made my clothes?” And then, turn your garment inside out and find out. Take a picture and share with the world. Check out Fashion Revolution and get involved. Save, copy, share, and spread the word… it’s easy. P.S.: Can a hashtag change the fashion industry?

January 11, 2021
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 2/52 | 2021
“It is the sun shining on the rain and the rain falling on the sunshine, and things pushing up and working under the earth…” —Frances Hodgson Burnett, The Secret Garden, 1911 As we continue to settle in this winter, we are looking for ways to slow down, stay calm, be present, feel inspired, and soften…. Read on

December 31, 2020
2020: THE YEAR IN REVIEW
From top left: Luna Rae Top in White Gold Palm; The Willie Top in Blue Slate; Waffle Caftan in Natural; Lightweight Organic Cotton Face Mask in Black; Left and bottom right: Lee Dress, 2017; Top right: Chandler Jacket and Austin Skirt, 2018 by Natalie Chanin for Alabama Chanin from The Women who Revolutionized Fashion: 250… Read on

December 28, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 51/52 | 2020
Instagram: @alabamachanin “It always seems impossible until it’s done.” ― Nelson Mandela If 2020 has shown us anything, it has been the resilience and courage of so many. It is with this spirit of hope that we move into 2021, but before the new year arrives, we reflect on our year at Alabama Chanin. As we look… Read on

October 26, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 43/52 | 2020
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.” ― Maya Angelou Our #womenwhoinspire series on the Journal is an ever-growing collection of posts about inspirational women whose selfless actions, harrowing stories, and good works have bettered their communities and society as a whole. Expanding on this theme of amazing women, this… Read on

October 5, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 40/52 | 2020
Cradle to Cradle: Remaking The Way We Make Things by William McDonough and Michael Braungart , Biomimicry: Innovation Inspired By Nature by Janine M. Benyus, Natural Capitalism: Creating The Next Industrial Revolution by Paul Hawken, Amory Lovins, and L. Hunter Lovins, The Ecology of Commerce: A Declaration of Sustainability by Paul Hawken, Strategy for Sustainability:… Read on

July 12, 2020
#THOSEWHOINSPIREUS: EMMA AMOS
In 2017 and on a trip to New York City, I visited the Brooklyn Museum to view Georgia O’Keeffe: Living Modern. It was a beautiful spring day and before the thought of social distancing would come to rule our world. I was with a friend; we weren’t in a hurry. As I passed the entrance… Read on

May 8, 2020
PROJECT THREADWAYS: SHIFTS IN TEXTILES
Founded last year as a non-profit, Project Threadways examines, documents, and records the history of textiles. In preparation for our next symposium, we have been researching textile history over millennia and the broader arc of time (look for updates next week). As we think ahead to the future, we can’t help but question how COVID-19 will forever… Read on

December 17, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 51/52 | 2018
“My idea of Christmas, whether old-fashioned or modern, is very simple: loving others.” ― Bob Hope The signs of a Christmas season in full swing are all around us: homes and Christmas trees are decorated with colorful lights, dinner menus are underway, presents are wrapped, suitcases are packed, and guest rooms are ready for family… Read on

August 13, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 33/52 | 2018
“Alabama Chanin has evolved into a community… a company of farmers, fabric makers, artisans and our customers who support what we do.” — Natalie Chanin from the archives: W Magazine, 2011 With the excitement of a new Collection at the forefront of our minds, this week we take a few moments to reflect on all… Read on

August 8, 2017
ACCESSORIES: ACCESSORIZE
Fashion accessories are one of the most effective ways for a wearer to add his or her personal style to an outfit. Over the years, traditional jewelry in gems and precious metals, bags, gloves, hats, stockings, even hair or tattoos have been used as some form of accessory—to define a “look” and express one’s mood… Read on

February 24, 2017
INDIGO STORIES: DONNA HARDY OF SEA ISLAND INDIGO
We have, over the years, done quite a bit of experimenting with natural dyes, and we try to integrate naturally dyed fabrics into our collections of low-impact dyed yardage whenever possible. We have also been lucky enough to benefit from the wisdom of many natural dye experts. Picking up from a conversation we had last… Read on

September 20, 2016
CLAIRE MCCARDELL
“Clothes are for real live women…They are made to be worn, to be lived in.” – Claire McCardell Claire McCardell is effectively the founder of American ready-to-wear fashion. Working from the 1930s through the 50s, McCardell was innovative because she designed clothing that was fashionable but also allowed women to move, breathe, and generally live… Read on

June 30, 2016
THE HISTORY OF SILHOUETTES
Our clothing today says much about who we are and—in some cases—what we believe in. To some, what they wear is of great importance and to others, not so much. But modern women in most Western societies have the agency to decide what to wear and how much meaning they assign to what they wear…. Read on

May 19, 2016
THE HISTORY OF PATTERN MAKING
We previously shared The History of Tailoring and continue our series on fit with a comprehensive history of pattern making. In order to survive, human beings had to master the arts of creating and sustaining food, clothing, and shelter. As time went on, we became better at those tasks and began to create standards for what… Read on

June 30, 2015
ON DESIGN: WILLIAM MORRIS + ARTS AND CRAFTS
Last fall, as an extension of our Makeshift initiative, we began a new series of events and conversations called On Design. The series explores art, design, makers, relationships, and the elevation of craft. Our conversation in January explored William Morris and the Arts and Crafts Movement. Here are some of Natalie’s thoughts from the presentation…. Read on

June 16, 2015
SUPPLY CHAINS: A COMMITMENT TO COTTON
According to Wikipedia, supply chain is defined as “a system of organizations, people, activities, information, and resources involved in moving a product or service from supplier to customer.” At Alabama Chanin we strive to responsibly produce quality, sustainable products—at every level of the supply chain. We believe that responsibility means transparency and understanding where each material comes from… Read on

January 17, 2012
CHAT WITH A PIRATE
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