Search Results for: women

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

October 7, 2020
IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN, PART II
In 2016, Grace Bonney, founder of Design*Sponge, published In the Company of Women: Inspiration and Advice from over 100 Makers, Artists, and Entrepreneurs. In it, she interviews and highlights women from a diverse range of backgrounds, races, ages, and abilities. Natalie was proud to be included among this talented group of entrepreneurs and makers, all of whom… Read on

March 8, 2020
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
“Each time a woman stands up for herself, she stands up for all women.” – Maya AngelouJoin us today in celebration of International Women’s Day and explore our #womenwhoinspire series on the Journal.

February 10, 2019
#WOMENARTISTS: JENNY HOLZER
American conceptual artist Jenny Holzer finds her outlet in words. She started out making large-scale public installations, pasting signs in public spaces, guerrilla style. She has used billboards, t-shirts, books, video, and—notably—LED signs to get her messages across. Her focus is exploring the power of language and how it helps us communicate, but also to… Read on

August 3, 2018
#WOMENARTISTS: SWOON
When she began her art career, Swoon (born Caledonia Dance Curry) never tagged her art, opting to leave her pieces anonymous. She came up with the “street” name in a dream and began to use the tag which, because it is not gender-specific, led many observers to think the artist was a man—an unexpected advantage… Read on

July 6, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: GLORIA STEINEM
Gloria Steinem was born in 1934, the daughter of a traveling salesman and the granddaughter of activist Pauline Steinem. Pauline was chairwoman to the educational committee of the National Woman Suffrage Association, a delegate to the 1908 International Council of Women, and the first woman to be elected to the Toledo Board of Education. She… Read on

June 29, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: ETHEL PAYNE
African-American journalist Ethel Payne was born in 1911, the granddaughter of slaves and the fifth daughter in a large family. Her father, who worked in a stockyard and was a Pullman porter, died when Ethel was 46 and Ethel’s mother became a domestic worker to support the family. There was little money for education so after high school, Payne began… Read on

June 22, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: NELLIE BLY
Even in today’s relatively progressive world, female journalists often face discrimination or are corralled into writing or producing material that is meant to appeal to the so-called feminine point-of-view. As we recently highlighted, there are those like Christiane Amanpour who have worked hard to challenge the status quo. But for every Amanpour, there is another… Read on

June 15, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: MARGARET BOURKE-WHITE
Margaret Bourke-White, born in the Bronx in 1904, was one of the earliest prominent female photographers – working for a number of notable publications, primarily LIFE magazine. Though she studied photography in college, she was uninterested in pursuing it as a profession until long out of school. Eventually, she formed her own company, with Otis… Read on

June 8, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: CHRISTIANE AMANPOUR
The newsroom has traditionally been a “boys’ club”—and we are just beginning to see a shift in this mindset, both on cable and network news. For decades, Christiane Amanpour has been challenging that norm as a prominent news correspondent and a leader and role model for women (and all journalists) all over the world. Growing… Read on

May 25, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: TANZILA KHAN
Tanzila Khan was born in Sialkot, Pakistan, and a physical disability has confined her to a wheelchair since birth. Her activism began early in her life, as she was on the receiving end of discriminatory practices. In Pakistan, those with disabilities are often relegated to a lower status and their needs and desires are rarely… Read on

May 18, 2018
#WOMENWHOINPISRE: WAGATWE WANJUKI
In August 2016, Wagatwe Wanjuki live streamed herself burning her once-loved Tufts University sweatshirt on Facebook Live. She held up the shirt bearing the name of her former college, one she bought in high school when she was accepted to Tufts. “I was very proud to claim Tufts as my school and my alma mater,”… Read on

May 11, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: BETTY FORD
First Lady Elizabeth Anna (aka “Betty”) Ford served alongside her husband, Gerald Ford, the 38th President of the United States, from 1974 until 1977. Unlike many First Ladies before her, Betty was outspoken and approachable, tackling many thorny issues of the time. Born Elizabeth Bloomer in 1918, Ford studied dance with, among other instructors, the… Read on

April 27, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: MELISSA MAYS
There is an incredible number of social and environmental issues being poorly addressed in America, perhaps few so serious as the current water crisis in Flint, Michigan. Activist Melissa Mays has been a loud voice amid the chaos, one sometimes inconvenient to government officials. But with her family and her community at risk amid one… Read on

April 20, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: CALINA LAWRENCE
Did you know that (per the Indian Law Resource Center) more than 4 out of 5 American Indian and Alaska Native women have experienced violence, and more than 50% have experienced sexual violence? Were you aware that, according to the Center for Disease Control, the third-leading cause of death for Native American and Alaska Native… Read on

April 13, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: JANE GOODALL
In the late 1950s, Jane Goodall visited Kenya at the urging of a friend, not knowing that her life’s work lay just ahead. She fostered a love for all animals since early childhood and, while there, summoned the courage to reach out to famous anthropologist Louis Leakey, whose fossil discoveries documented that modern man’s origins… Read on

April 6, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: RACHEL CARSON
Rachel Carson’s childhood was spent in a smoky suburb of Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania, far from the seas and oceans that would one day capture her heart. Her home was near the local glue factory, where she would watch slaughtered horses fed by conveyor belt into an oven; the smell was so rancid that families rarely went… Read on

March 30, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: AVA DUVERNAY
“All black art is political. I think our very presence is political. Anyone that is able to establish a voice and a consistent presence and put their voice forth is doing something radical and political with their very presence.” – Ava DuVernay Filmmaker Ava DuVernay was born in 1972 in Long Beach, California, and raised… Read on

March 23, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: SOPHIE SCHOLL
“What does my death matter, if through us, thousands of people are awakened and stirred to action?” – Sophie Scholl These were the words of Sophie Scholl, a 21-year old leader of an Anti-Nazi rebellion movement in the 1940s. Sophie, her brother Hans, and their friend Christoph Probst, were executed by Nazi party officials in 1943,… Read on

March 17, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: EMMELINE PANKHURST
Champion of women’s suffrage, Emmeline Pankhurst was born in 1858 in Manchester, England, to radical politically active parents. When she was 14 years old, they opened her eyes to women who were fighting for the right to vote – a cause she immediately took up and advocated for the rest of her life. When Emmeline… Read on

March 9, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: IDA B. WELLS
Born a slave in Holly Springs, Mississippi, in 1862, Ida Wells was the child of politically active parents, and her life was an example of that influence. Her father James, after being freed from a lifetime of slavery, was involved in the Freedman’s Aid Society, and he helped found and served on the first board… Read on

March 2, 2018
#WOMENARTISTS: LORINA BULWER
In Norwich Castle Museum in England, you can find several textiles made by a woman named Lorina Bulwer—embroideries that might be seen as messages of protest or anger. Of the three wool and cotton-scrap pieces, two are square images of arguing men, and the others are scrolls made of scraps, heavily embroidered with stream-of-consciousness-like text…. Read on

February 23, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: DIANE NASH
“We presented Southern white racists with a new option: kill us or desegregate.” “Who the hell is Diane Nash?” Robert Kennedy Jr. asked his then-special assistant John Seigenthaler in 1961. At the time, Nash was helping to coordinate the legendary Freedom Rides, filling buses with black and white activists protesting the lack of desegregation enforcement…. Read on

February 20, 2018
#WOMENARTISTS: LOUISE NEVELSON’S BRIDE + GROOM
American artist Louise Nevelson has been an inspiration for several elements of our style aesthetic for some time now. The textural and stylistic elements of her sculpture have found their way into our collection a few times, particularly with the Tweed fabric design in our Bridal + Eveningwear Collection. Its sculptural qualities can find parentage… Read on

February 16, 2018
#WOMENARTISTS: XENOBIA BAILEY
Paradise Under Reconstruction in the Aesthetic of Funk—that is the name of fiber artist Xenobia Bailey’s ongoing cultural art project. It’s colorful, challenging, multi-disciplinary, and incredibly difficult (if not impossible) to categorize. Bailey’s primary media are yarn and fabric and most of her pieces are crochet or knitted. She often uses concentric circles or repeating… Read on

February 9, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: AMELIA BOYNTON
“Remember, this is your day and your world.” —Amelia Boynton One of the most famous photographs taken of “Bloody Sunday”, when state troopers brutally assaulted civil rights marchers in Selma, Alabama, shows an unconscious woman—dressed in heels, gloves, and a formal hat—being cradled and protected by a fellow marcher. That woman was Amelia Boynton, an… Read on

February 2, 2018
#WOMENWHOINSPIRE: VIVIAN MALONE JONES
As part of Black History Month, we are highlighting several women with connections to our region who made—and are making—significant contributions to the modern Civil Rights movement.

March 8, 2017
INTERNATIONAL WOMEN’S DAY
“It is not our differences that divide us. It is our inability to recognize, accept, and celebrate those differences.” — Audre Lorde March 8th is International Women’s Day, and the global community is embracing this day more enthusiastically every year. Groups of women and men are coming together around the world to celebrate the social, economic,… Read on

January 6, 2017
#WOMENARTISTS: AGNES MARTIN
“Of all the pitfalls in our paths and the tremendous delays and wanderings off the track, I want to say that they are not what they seem to be. I want to say that all that seems like fantastic mistakes are not mistakes; all that seems like error is not error. And it all has… Read on

November 4, 2016
IN THE COMPANY OF WOMEN
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

November 14, 2014
REAL WOMEN: SOLA
Do you remember your first day of school? I don’t remember the actual day, but I do have photos of myself, standing outside my first grade classroom, smiling, wearing a plaid dress and knee socks. I do remember my children’s first school days—the nervous excitement they showed and the bittersweet pride I felt at witnessing… Read on

September 29, 2014
REAL WOMEN: KYM WORTHY
I picked up the TIME magazine pictured above at an airport kiosk some time ago. While traveling that day, I lingered over this inspiring—and disturbing—story about Kym Worthy. It is true that some leaders find their calling early and some crusaders know their mission almost from birth. Others come to leadership by accident or they… Read on

March 21, 2014
REAL WOMEN AS SEEN BY MEN
Last year, we began a series called “Real Women,” an exploration of the real women in our lives (and throughout history) that have made a difference—one way or another—in our world. Today, we are finishing a chapter of that series: real women as seen by men. Here you find a tribute from son to mother,… Read on

July 29, 2013
REAL WOMEN: ACROSS GENERATIONS
We have long written stories and profiles of real women; however, on January 15, 2013, we began an official series that we call, “Real Women.” Here you find the latest in this series, written by Bill Simpson, our friend and father to confidante and editor, Sara Martin. Please welcome Bill and savor his story of real women across three generations…. Read on

May 3, 2013
WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL
As our conversation about Real Women continues, we’ve collected another story from the male point for view, this one from our friend Jeff Moerchen, who has contributed to our blog before and whose book Ligonier we sell in our online store. WOMEN ARE BEAUTIFUL: The coffee shop that I routinely visit employs a female barista… Read on

April 5, 2013
REAL WOMEN AS SEEN BY MEN: AUNT SNOONIE
This year, as we celebrate Real Women and what they mean in our lives, we thought it essential to include the perspectives of both men and women. So, beginning today, we will be offering stories, thoughts, and remembrances from men of the great women in their lives. AUNT SNOONIE When I was a kid in… Read on

January 16, 2013
REAL WOMEN EAT LETTUCE (+ SHERRY HONEY VINAIGRETTE)
On Monday, Sara wrote her thoughts on fashion and designing for real people with different body types. We’ve written before ‘On Beauty’ and the comeback of pin-up style. Even though media representations might make you feel differently, the fact is that women come in so many beautiful shapes and sizes. This is a deeply important… Read on

January 15, 2013
REAL WOMEN: WHER VIA THE KITCHEN SISTERS
This post – part of our new “Real Women” series – is dedicated to two of the most “real” women I know: Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva of The Kitchen Sisters. Without their dedication to telling the “real” story, I would not be the designer, or the person, I am today. Lost and Found Sound… Read on

January 20, 2021
INSPIRATION: AMBER
“The evening sings in a voice of amber, the dawn is surely coming.” —Al Stewart Amber begins as a soft resin that eventually becomes stronger with time. Because it begins in a malleable and fluid state, it can collect ancient insects, water, and natural elements as it changes form. For that reason, one might consider… Read on

January 19, 2021
WINTER LAYERING: WARMTH FOR THIS SEASON
Clockwise from top left: Natalie’s Pullover, The Rosa Top, The Trench, Natalie’s Coat detail, Natalie’s Coat, The Peacoat, The Hoodie, Corrine Jacket Explore layering pieces below that offer added comfort and warmth for this season.

January 18, 2021
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 3/52 | 2021
“Photograph of a Young Woman at the Civil Rights March on Washington, D.C. with a Banner”, 1963 from the National Archives and Record Administration won’t you celebrate with me ― Lucille Clifton …born in babylon both nonwhite and woman what did i see to be except myself? i made it up here on this bridge between starshine and clay… This Martin Luther King, Jr. Day we celebrate just… Read on

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

December 9, 2020
THE SLIP DRESS: OUR MODERN VERSION
Early instances of lingerie as clothing emerged in 1700’s France with Marie Antoinette and members of her court. During their casual, all-female gatherings, they wore what was called a chemise – a loose garment that was shaped only with drawstrings or sashes. These were not worn in formal society, but became casual staples. Slips have… Read on

November 19, 2020
THE TRENCH AND PEACOAT BUNDLES + SARA BERMAN’S CLOSET
From top left: Asymmetrical Peacoat in Verdant made from The Peacoat Bundle from The School of Making; Color Palette Bundle #4 from The School of Making; “Things had changed for the better, which is not always the case. But sometimes is.” from Sara Berman’s Closet, 2018 by Maira Kalman and Alex Kalman; “Maira Kalman sweeping… 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

November 12, 2020
MAKE IT HOLIDAY: MAKER’S GIFT GUIDE
From top left: Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns, The T-Shirt Top Kit in Anna’s Garden Sand/Natural 100% Organic Medium-Weight Cotton Jersey in Ochre, The Asymmetrical Peacoat Kit in Forest, Embroidery Floss, Three-Day Workshop Explore The School of Making’s holiday gift guide featuring seasonal favorites and gifts for makers. Find new designs, inspiration for your next project, and give… Read on

November 5, 2020
NEW FROM THE SCHOOL OF MAKING: THE TRENCH AND PEACOAT BUNDLES
“Most of our lives we live closed up in ourselves, with a longing not to be alone, to include others in that life that is invisible and intangible. To make it visible and tangible, we need light and material, any material. And any material can take on the burden of what had been brewing in… Read on

October 28, 2020
INSPIRATION: ARTS AND CRAFTS MOVEMENT AND THE BAUHAUS
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

October 27, 2020
NEW ORGANIC RIB + WAFFLE STYLES
“Understanding the physics of the fabric at the structural level is key to our work at Alabama Chanin.” – Natalie Chanin, Alabama Studio Sewing + Design As much poetry that goes into describing the fit and movement and feel of our fabrics and styles, equally, we must understand the science behind our fabrics. The fabric informs a garment’s… 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 22, 2020
OUR WORKSHOPS: CONNECT CREATIVELY
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

October 20, 2020
HAND-CRAFTED MODERN: FLORENCE COLLECTION
The Florence Collection’s modern, elevated designs are crafted from lush 100% organic cotton fabrics and feature luxury details and hand-painted finishes. Celebrate 20 years of sustainable design with us. SHOP THE FLORENCE COLLECTION Shop Natalie’s Favorites:Hallmark Designs + Goods SHOP + EXPLORE

October 15, 2020
COLOR PALETTE BUNDLE #4
Clockwise from top left: “Khruangbin” by Mal de Mar from Lux Aeterna: Latitudes of Reverence to an Endless Sun, 2005–2018 by Mal de Mar; Abstract Camel Fabric Swatch from The School of Making DIY Kits; hand-stitched interpretations of cliffs and Italian roof tiles from The Intentional Thread: A Guide to Drawing, Gesture, and Color in Stitch, 2019 by Susan… Read on

October 13, 2020
INTRODUCING THE FLORENCE COLLECTION
Celebrating 20 years of sustainable design. The Florence Collection is an exploration of natural silhouettes, movement, and abstract form. Florence’s modern, elevated designs are crafted from lush 100% organic cotton fabrics and feature the luxury details and hand-painted finishes that are synonymous with the Alabama Chanin brand. The Florence Collection pays homage to Natalie’s 20… 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

September 28, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 39/52 | 2020
“Still of PlanYourVote.org video”, 2020 by Jenny Holzer “Voting is the expression of our commitment to ourselves, one another, this country, and this world.” ― Sharon Salzberg The fundamental right of voting has not always been freely available to all citizens of our country. While the United States Constitution was written in 1787, women could not vote until 1920, with… Read on

September 17, 2020
INTRODUCING: THE CORSET PATTERN
From left: “Corset illustration” by Sun Young Park for The School of Making Book Series and Patterns; “Original Corset” from the Alabama Chanin archives; Bloomers Fabric Detail in Natural/White Reverse Appliqué; “Corset” from Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns by Natalie Chanin (pages 74–75); “Corset”, 1870–89 by Maison Léoty via the Metropolitan Museum of Art; DIY Corset… Read on

September 16, 2020
LIVE BY THE WORD AND KEEP WALKING
In 1993, in what seems a different life, I was going through a very difficult time of great upheaval and deep sorrow. During this time, like today, reading was one of the few things that kept me sane. I’ve had a tendency my entire life to find an author I like and read many, or… Read on

August 31, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 36/52 | 2020
“Fashion is the armor to survive the reality of everyday life.” ― Bill Cunningham Long a fixture in women’s closets since the Victorian era ended and corsets fell by the wayside, house dresses have had many incarnations over the decades. From long and loose “Mother Hubbard” dresses to the recognizable uniform of a 1950’s housewife,… Read on

August 26, 2020
#THOSEWHOINSPIRE: JO ANN ROBINSON
“Mugshot of Jo Ann Robinson in the wake of the Montgomery Bus Boycott”, February 21, 1956, from Montgomery County Archives via the National Museum of African American History & Culture. Throughout our series, we’ve heard the stories of three courageous women from the state of Alabama: Recy Taylor, Rosa Parks, and Claudette Colvin. Today we write about Jo Ann Robinson for… Read on

August 19, 2020
WAYFINDING: STARDUST, VIJA CELMINS, RINNE ALLEN, AND LEE BONTECOU
“A spider’s—or a painter’s—fleeting stab at perfection is a negligible stitch in an unbounded fabric. Its only significance lies in our own momentary, mortal gaze as we reckon with eternity.” — Peter Schjeldahl It is summertime in the early aughts, late evening. I am in New York City, and I’m riding my 1971 Schwinn Stardust bike on… Read on

August 12, 2020
#THOSEWHOINSPIREUS: LEE BONTECOU
“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

August 11, 2020
ROSA PARKS: 7053 AND PROTEST
Left: Rosa Parks 7053 Tee, a collaboration between Alabama Chanin and basic. benefitting the Equal Justice Initiative; Right: “Montgomery, Alabama, police photo (mug shot) of Rosa Parks”, February 21, 1956 from Alabama Department of Archives and History. In the iconic booking photograph of Rosa Parks shown above, taken February 21, 1956, she is recorded as prisoner “7053” after being… Read on

August 10, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 33/52 | 2020
“Veiled in this fragile filigree of wax is the essence of sunshine, golden and limpid, tasting of grassy meadows, mountain wildflowers, lavishly blooming orange trees, or scrubby desert weeds. Honey, even more than wine, is a reflection of place. If the process of grape to glass is alchemy, then the trail from blossom to bottle… Read on

August 5, 2020
#THOSEWHOINSPIRE: CLAUDETTE COLVIN
Claudette Colvin, aged 13, in 1953. (Public Domain) In our series honoring the significant contributions of Black women and their interconnectedness—the persistence of their struggle for freedom—we’ve written about Recy Taylor and Rosa Parks. Today we share the story of Claudette Colvin. Claudette Colvin was thinking about her history class when she changed history. On March 2, 1955, Claudette Colvin… Read on

August 3, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 32/52 | 2020
Left: Image of Natelie’s card from her spring 2017 visit to the We Wanted a Revolution: Black Radical Women, 1965 – 85 exhibit at the Brooklyn Museum. Pictured: Faith Ringgold (right) and Michele Wallace (middle) at Art Workers Coalition Protest, Whitney Museum, 1971. Digital C-print. Photographed by Jan van Raay. Right: “Free, White and 21”,… Read on

July 28, 2020
LEISURE: DESIGNED WITH COMFORT IN MIND
Created with our quality standards of sustainable and ethical design and manufacturing, our Leisure Collection features organic cotton pieces for comfort and self-care. Find undergarments, soft layering pieces, practical styles for home and everyday wear, and inspirations along the way in our newly re-imagined Leisure collection. The Collection: Luxury Style This Way DESIGN + INSPIRATION

July 27, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 31/52 | 2020
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

July 23, 2020
SUMMER INSPIRATION
Explore our Make It Summer: DIY Kits here and find more making and design inspiration below. MAKING, DESIGN, + INSPIRATION

July 22, 2020
#THOSEWHOINSPIREUS: ROSA PARKS
Rosa Parks being fingerprinted on February 22, 1956, by Lieutenant D.H. Lackey as one of the people indicted as leaders of the Montgomery bus boycott from Associated Press; restored by Adam Cuerden. We continue to honor not only the significant contributions of Black women, but also their interconnectedness—the persistence of their struggle for freedom. We previously shared the… Read on

July 21, 2020
NEW: LEISURE COLLECTION
“Ships at a distance have every man’s wish on board. For some they come with the tide. For others they sail forever on the horizon, never out of sight…” — Zora Neale Hurston, Their Eyes Were Watching God Our most beloved essentials, re-imagined. Explore the assortment of evergreen and everyday garments designed in the spirit… 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

July 9, 2020
NEW DIY SEWING KITS + GOLD FABRIC
Make it Summer with our DIY Sewing Kits. Explore the collection here and find more inspiration below. MAKING, DESIGN, + INSPIRATION Available for a limited time in tone-on-tone hues Experience our full range of fabric colors for the Year of Color Introducing new Gold fabric and back-in-stock colors by the yard Sustainably made kitchen and… Read on

July 6, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 28/52 | 2020
“Reproductive freedom is critical to a whole range of issues. If we can’t take charge of this most personal aspect of our lives, we can’t take care of anything. It should not be seen as a privilege or as a benefit, but a fundamental human right.” ― Faye Wattleton This Saturday, July 11th, is World… Read on

July 3, 2020
#THOSEWHOINSPIREUS: RECY TAYLOR
Mrs. Recy Taylor, 1944, credit: The Rape of Recy Taylor; From The People’s World/Daily Worker and Tamiment Library/Robert F. Wagner Labor Archives, New York University Over the coming weeks and months, we will honor the significant contributions of four Black women and their interconnectedness—the persistence of their struggle for freedom. We are going to tell… Read on

June 25, 2020
COLOR INSPIRATION: ALMA THOMAS + RED, WHITE, BLUE, AND GOLD
Left to right: Untitled (Music Series), Untitled (Blue), and Jonquils, all by Alma Thomas, showcase her unique style—a deep understanding of color theory, finding inspiration in the natural world, and a developing abstract style. Alma Thomas, born in 1891 in Columbus, Georgia, was an art teacher, and alumni of Howard and Columbia Universities. In the 1960s, and after… Read on

June 19, 2020
A CAKE FOR GEORGIA GILMORE
This post was originally published on our Journal in January 2014. We reshare it today, on Juneteenth, as an expression of our support for Black Lives Matter and honor to the heroines and heroes that came before those who are fighting for justice and equality today. Georgia Gilmore (about whom we have written before), is… Read on

June 15, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 25/52 | 2020
“Harriet Tubman Mural” by Aaron Douglas, c. 1931, commissioned by Alfred K. Stern of Chicago for Bennett College for Women, Greensboro, North Carolina “If the cruelties of slavery could not stop us, the opposition we now face will surely fail. Because the goal of America is freedom, abused and scorned tho’ we may be, our destiny is tied… Read on

June 10, 2020
RUTH CLEMENT BOND + THE TVA QUILTS
The fabric tells a story. In the careful stitches, the colors, the pieces, a narrative takes shape. The blue water, the bright sun overhead, the American flag. In the center, a black fist holds a red lightning bolt. Harnessing power, and powerful itself. This fabric is a quilt, designed by Ruth Clement Bond, one of six so-called… Read on

June 8, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 24/52 | 2020
“This world demands the qualities of youth: not a time of life but a state of mind, a temper of the will, a quality of imagination, a predominance of courage over timidity, of the appetite for adventure over the love of ease.” ― Robert Kennedy Young people across the nation and the world have, for… Read on

June 4, 2020
ANTI-RACISM RESOURCES
Activist and filmmaker Sarah Sophie Flicker and writer Alyssa Klein compiled this document in May 2020. They encourage everyone to circulate it on social media and with your friends, family, and colleagues, and we do too. This document is intended to serve as a resource to white people and parents to deepen our anti-racism work…. Read on

June 1, 2020
WE ARE HERE.
Like many of you, all of us at Alabama Chanin are deeply angry and gut-wrenchingly grieved about the unrest in our nation and the racism towards our brothers and sisters. However, this time is not about us; this is a time to dig in and learn to do better. We’ve worked for almost 20 years… Read on

May 28, 2020
HOPE (+ THE SHIRT PROJECT)
“Hope is being able to see that there is light despite all of the darkness.” –Desmond Tutu In these unprecedented times, hope has become a pivotal emotion for all of us. There is so much wrapped up in our hope for the future, our hope for change, our hopes for well-being. Hope has always been… Read on

May 26, 2020
NEW COLLECTION: WATERCOLOR
“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

May 25, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 21/52 | 2020
“Those who have long enjoyed such privileges as we enjoy forget in time that men have died to win them.” ― Franklin D. Roosevelt Celebrating the unofficial start of summer, Memorial Day brings cookouts, beach trips, and an extra day off from work for many. The holiday has a deeper, and much more important, meaning:… Read on

May 22, 2020
SUSTAINABLE LIVING: GARDENING
To plant a garden is to believe in tomorrow – Audrey Hepburn Originally planted during World War I and World War II, victory gardens offered food security, reduced pressure of the food supply, and encouraged morale during wartimes. They have made a resurgence amid the COVID-19 pandemic, with many citizens of communities across the world going… Read on

May 11, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 19/52 | 2020
“Nursing is not for everyone. It takes a very strong, intelligent, and compassionate person to take on the ills of the world with passion and purpose and work to maintain the health and well-being of the planet” ― Donna Wilk Cardillo Celebrated on the birthday of Florence Nightingale, this Tuesday, May 12th, is International Nurses… Read on

May 10, 2020
MOTHER’S DAY LOVE
“She was the first to ever love me.” We have the deepest appreciation for the women and mothers who birthed us, nurture us, and continue to care for and love us. We look up to them every day, and today, we share stories and works of art that celebrate them: Never a Pal Like Mother:… Read on

May 4, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 18/52 | 2020
“Cities have the capability of providing something for everybody, only because, and only when, they are created by everybody.” ― Jane Jacobs, The Death and Life of Great American Cities Activist, journalist, and writer Jane Jacobs’ was instrumental in paving the way for urban planning in American cities and grass-roots organizing. Her work and writings focused on urban studies, sociology, and economic theory and often addressed controversial… Read on

April 30, 2020
PROJECT: COLOR BLOCKED A-LINE DRESS
In lieu of our beloved Build A Wardrobe, we are focusing this year on using existing books and patterns to expand our wardrobes with available resources. We’ve been having lots of conversations about sustainability within our own business but also about the sustainability around the products we choose to create and make. Thirty master patterns… Read on

April 20, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 16/52 | 2020
“Those who contemplate the beauty of the earth find reserves of strength that will endure as long as life lasts. There is something infinitely healing in the repeated refrains of nature—the assurance that dawn comes after night, and spring after winter.” – Rachel Carson, Silent Spring Natalie has been creating sustainable fashion in our community for 20… Read on

April 6, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 14/52 | 2020
“I will remember that there is art to medicine as well as science, and that warmth, sympathy, and understanding may outweigh the surgeon’s knife or the chemist’s drug.” ― Hippocratic Oath, modern version Last Monday was National Doctors’ Day, a day that recognizes the contributions of physicians to individual lives and communities. It couldn’t be… Read on

April 1, 2020
A LIGHT AT THE END: TURNING CRISIS INTO ACTION
“This is the power of gathering: it inspires us delightfully, to be more hopeful, more joyful, more thoughtful: in a word, more alive.” – Alice Waters As a company and as a community, we have always found joy in communion and welcoming others to our table. Our friend John T. Edge recently wrote, “In previous… Read on

March 26, 2020
THE SCHOOL OF MAKING: DIY KIT REFRESH
As we spend more time indoors, social distancing, and getting through this time spent #TogetherApart, we can’t think of a better way to fill the time, keep our hands busy, and allow our minds a bit of rest, than making. 2020 is The Year of Color at The School of Making, and we have been exploring new… Read on

March 25, 2020
SELF-CARE ENNEAGRAM (+ LEISURE STYLES BY TYPE)
During this time of uncertainty, we are thinking of the wellbeing of those in our lives—especially elderly parents and grandparents, children, immunocompromised friends, neighbors, and coworkers, local businesses, and restaurants struggling to stay open and pay their employees. Though these thoughts are inevitable (and completely normal), we also know self-care and retreat are vital for… Read on

March 24, 2020
LEISURE: STAY-AT-HOME ESSENTIALS
As we all work together to stop the spread of COVID-19, we’re looking to find things—cooking, making, connecting—that will sustain and nourish us in meaningful ways. As we strive to maintain our normal routines as best we can, we are also looking for beauty everywhere. Spring has arrived in north Alabama, and we’re fortunate to… Read on

March 23, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 12/52 | 2020
“Creativity is nothing but a mind set free.” ― Torrie T. Asai The School of Making is a community of makers. In a time of crisis, as the entire world is currently under during the COVID-19 outbreak, it is the communities that rally together to offer comfort and support to all. We, like so many… Read on

March 20, 2020
MAN AND WOMAN AS MAKER
Nothing in our lives has prepared us for what we are living and navigating right now. Every day is filled with constant change alongside inertia. We find ourselves constantly having to make decisions while monitoring COVID-19, as we would a tornado or hurricane headed toward our community at a snail’s pace. So, we plan and do… Read on

March 9, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 10/52 | 2020
“Where there is a woman, there is magic.” ― Ntozake Shange International Women’s Day was celebrated yesterday, March 8th. In its honor, we invite you to reflect on this year’s theme, “I am Generation Equality: Realizing Women’s Rights,” and encourage you to support local and national organizations that stand behind a better and more inclusive future. We… Read on

February 18, 2020
CORE ESSENTIALS: WHAT’S NEW
Our Core Essentials collection recently received a refresh and now brings together everyday basics from the Collection and Leisure in one place on AlabamaChanin.com. Along with the refresh, we have introduced a range of new styles. Take a closer look at each of these—carefully designed and made by our team with timeless style, comfortable fit,… Read on

February 14, 2020
LOVE ____.
“Let the beauty of what you love be what you do.” – Rumi Explore the links below to discover who, what, and where we love. Love yourself. Love your family, friends, and neighbors. Love good company. Love your team. Love the planet. Love good food. Love to travel. Love to create. … Read on

February 11, 2020
NEW: CORE CLUB
Since 2017, we have been offering Core Club, a selection of our favorite pieces that can be styled together or paired with your existing wardrobe. Core Club is made up of four styles bundled together with 20% savings. And for the first time, we are combining styles from our classic Collection and Leisure collection into one Core Club offering. The new… Read on

February 7, 2020
MORE FRIENDS OF THE CAFE: 2020
As part of our sixth annual Friends of the Café Dinner Series, we are excited to round out the year’s slate of star chefs. Both are familiar faces who continue to surprise us with their culinary evolutions, and their food lends itself to the comfort and sense of community that these café dinners always offer. … Read on

February 4, 2020
CORE ESSENTIALS
Alabama Chanin Core Essential styles are the building blocks of a modern wardrobe. Traditionally, our Core styles have represented a range of Collection basics. As our designs have expanded over the years to introduce the Leisure collection, the foundations of our wardrobe offerings have grown. Core Essentials now combine both Collection and Leisure basics in… Read on

January 31, 2020
PROJECT THREADWAYS: NOTES FROM THE FIELD #5
“These living arts have been passed down by oral histories through generations of women and men—connecting us to our roots, our past, our community, and consequently to our present.” — Natalie Chanin, 2008 From the original introduction to Alabama Stitch Book A connection to community has always been deeply rooted in Natalie’s work and is… Read on

January 27, 2020
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 4/52 | 2020
“I had reasoned this out in my mind; there was one of two things I had a right to, liberty, or death; if I could not have one, I would have the other; for no man should take me alive; I should fight for my liberty as long as my strength lasted, and when the… Read on

January 17, 2020
NATALIE: 20 YEARS, WHAT I’M WEARING, + PATAGONIA RESTOCK
It will be 20 years this spring since I cut up that first t-shirt and hand stitched it back together. About this time in 2000, I would have just been getting ready to leave Venezuela and Nelly’s Kitchen and heading towards New York City to begin the adventure that has become Alabama Chanin. I’ve survived… Read on

January 15, 2020
NATALIE ON RETREAT, SARAH BAXTER, YOGA, + SELF CARE
Since the fall of 2018, I’ve been doing a (mostly) weekly yoga session with my friend Goode Dethero and Sarah Baxter, our teacher. This is one of the few moments in the week that I make time for myself and self-care. Sarah is a different, irreverent, non-spiritual/spiritual, knowledgeable, strong and gentle teacher and friend—as you’ll… Read on

January 14, 2020
THE LAUDERDALE TOP
The Florence and Muscle Shoals areas are steeped in history – from music like the Muscle Shoals Rhythm Section and W. C. Handy’s Jazz Fest, to Helen Keller’s birthplace at Ivy Green, to architecture like Frank Lloyd Wright’s Rosenbaum House (which is featured in our new Leisure collection). Alabama Chanin constantly draws inspiration from our… Read on

January 13, 2020
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“Once you have read a book you care about, some part of it is always with you.” ― Louis L’Amour Winter is in full swing with nightfall beginning early and weather that forces you to stay indoors out of the cold. This week we share a reading list with some of our favorite books featured… Read on

January 11, 2020
ALABAMA CHANIN IN NEW YORK CITY
Back in August of 2019 friend, badass, swimwear designer, and founder of the “love thy differences” movement, Malia Mills, joined us at The Factory with her team for a Pop-Up Shop. Natalie and the Alabama Chanin team have long been fans of Malia’s mission and expertly designed swimwear and ready-to-wear pieces that celebrate and flatter… Read on

December 11, 2019
ENNEAGRAM: A SHOPPING GUIDE FOR EACH TYPE
Do you know your Enneagram type? For those unfamiliar with the Enneagram, it is a set of nine distinct personality types, each denoted by a number. The personality system is represented by a nine-pointed star within a circle and each one of us falls on one point somewhere within that figure. Knowing your Enneagram personality… Read on

November 26, 2019
THE WRAP DRESS + TUNIC: STYLES FOR ALL
Twenty-five years ago, Diane von Furstenberg popularized the now-iconic wrap dress. Originally patterned after ballerina sweaters, the garment wraps around the torso, crosses at the chest, and cinches at the waist. The primary appeal of the wrap was that it flattered almost every body style and was worn by everyday women and celebrities alike. With… Read on

November 25, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 47/52 | 2019
“If you really are thankful, what do you do? You share.” ― W. Clement Stone Thanksgiving is this Thursday; a time for family, friends, good food, and reflection on the things we are most grateful for in our lives. In that spirit of thankfulness and fellowship, we were inspired this week to find and share… Read on

November 19, 2019
GIFT GUIDE: THE COLLECTION
The holidays will be here before you know it and Alabama Chanin has released our Collection Gift Guide – full of inspiration and a curated selection of gifts for the home, table, and wardrobe. To add ambiance and beauty to the home, shop our vinyl collection and coffee-table books like Vitamin T, which celebrates tapestry,… Read on

November 12, 2019
WHAT WE LOVE: WAFFLE KNIT STYLES
Our waffle knit styles have become some of our year-round, best-selling pieces. They can be styled for any season and are available in a range of colors to suit your preference. Waffle knit garments are comfortable enough to be worn for a cozy day at home and stylish enough to be worn to many events…. Read on

November 5, 2019
ALABAMA CHANIN: CORE CLUBS
Timeless basics with impeccable fits are the foundations of any wardrobe. Here at Alabama Chanin we have gathered our essential Core styles into two curated collections: The Alabama Chanin Core Club and the Leisure Core Club. Available in your choice of either Natural, Concrete, Navy, or Black 100% Organic Cotton fabrics, the Alabama Chanin Core… Read on

October 29, 2019
INTRODUCING: THE MONOGRAM
Monograms have been used for many things over time. They first appeared on coins; they have been employed by artists to sign their work; Charlemagne utilized them extensively to spread his name across the lands that he conquered. Royalty and military organizations have used them to denote stature. By nature, the monogram is a simple… Read on

October 15, 2019
FALL INTO COMFORT: LEISURE UPDATE
Our updated Leisure Collection launches today. Highlighting colorways that reflect natural skin tones and neutral colors, we photographed part of this collection at the iconic Rosenbaum Home designed by Frank Lloyd Wright. Along with a revamped color scheme, we introduce new, cozy styles. The Camisole and Camisole Dress are hand-sewn versions of our machine-made Tank… Read on

October 8, 2019
HIGHLIGHT: THE SCOOP AND THE SCOOP DRESS
Sure to be core staples in your wardrobe are The Scoop and The Scoop Dress. Offering a feminine, rounded neckline that is not too low or too high, these pieces offer a fitted, yet tailored look with your choice of four sleeve options: sleeveless, short, elbow, and long. Each style can be dressed up or… Read on

October 1, 2019
THE GILDED PANT
Over the last few years, Alabama Chanin has added pants to our repertoire of garments – with great success. Because our pant options have become so popular, we updated our Collection to include The Gilded Pant. This style is perfect for colder weather, but comfortable enough to be worn year-round. The Gilded Pant is made… Read on

September 25, 2019
CANDLELIGHT YOGA @ THE FACTORY
“Yoga is the journey of the self, through the self, to the self.” – The Bhagavad Gita Join us at The Factory on Tuesday, October 3rd, for an intimate candlelight yoga flow, taught by Sarah Baxter. The hour-long session will begin with two to three poses, gradually incorporating new postures with each round. The class… Read on

September 17, 2019
JW ANDERSON X NYT MAGAZINE
[Photographs by Kristin-Lee Moolman. Styled by Suzanne Koller, for The New York Times. (Left) JW Anderson windowpane wrap cape, $2,050, circular paneled jersey turtleneck, $290, wide-legged wool gabardine trousers, $950, wide-waist belt, $350, and sandals with tulle ties, price on request. (Right) Loewe pearl sweater, price on request.] In her article for The New York Times Style… Read on

August 26, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 35/52 | 2019
“Making it through the ceiling to the other side was simply a matter of running on a path created by every other woman’s footprints.” ― Shonda Rhimes Today is National Women’s Equality Day – a day that marks the adoption of the 19th Amendments to the U.S. Constitution, giving women the right to vote. In celebration… Read on

August 19, 2019
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“Be passionate and be involved in what you believe in, and do it as thoroughly and honestly and fearlessly as you can.” ― Marie Colvin On this day, August 19th, 100 years ago, Donna Allen was born in Petosky, Michigan. Allen would go on to found the Women’s Institute for Freedom of the Press in… Read on

August 14, 2019
MALIA MILLS POP-UP @ THE FACTORY
Celebrating the bodies of women of all sizes and ages, Malia Mills launched her company in 1993. Of her company Malia said: “We launched our company to inspire women to unleash the vixen within. At Malia Mills we don’t want to change the way you look, we want to change the way you see yourself.” This… Read on

August 5, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 32/52 | 2019
“Women belong in all places where decisions are being made. It shouldn’t be that women are the exception.” ― Ruth Bader Ginsburg This Saturday, August 10th, marks the 26th anniversary of Ruth Bader Ginsburg’s confirmation as a Supreme Court Justice – at the time only the second woman in United State’s history to have achieved that… Read on

July 29, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 31/52 | 2019
“Life seems to go on without effort when I am filled with music.” ― Mary Ann Evans (under the pen name George Eliot), The Mill on the Floss For us, a relaxed summer evening spent at home, listening to music, in comfy clothes, with a favorite cocktail, sounds just about perfect. For some stay-home inspiration… Read on

July 23, 2019
SUMMER HEAT
“Summer gathered in the weather, the wind had the proper touch, the breathing of the world was long and warm and slow. You had only to rise, lean from your window, and know that this was the first real time of freedom and living; this was the first morning of summer.” – Ray Bradbury, Dandelion… Read on

July 9, 2019
NEW: THE GILDED COLLECTION
ˈgild Transitive verb to overlay with or as if with a thin covering of gold Reminiscent of the soft gold of warm summer sunsets, our Gilded Collection debuts today, bringing with it new pieces and new color ways to the Alabama Chanin Collection. The highlight of this collection is the distinct gilded fabric – the… Read on

June 3, 2019
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“I paint not the things I see but the feelings they arouse in me.” ― Franz Kline The abstract shapes and design of our new spring Collection inspired us to learn more about some of our favorite female artists in the realm of abstract expressionism. This week we share a few of those supremely talented… Read on

May 27, 2019
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“Without memory, there is no culture. Without memory there would be no civilization, no future.” – Elie Wiesel To commemorate Memorial Day and honor those who have died while serving our country, today we share the stories of women in the military whose contributions have impacted our country and our lives. We pay gratitude to… Read on

May 20, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 21/52 | 2019
“A nation is not conquered until the hearts of its women are on the ground. Then it is done, no matter how brave its warriors nor how strong their weapons.” ― Cheyenne proverb, found in the book Lakota Woman by Mary Crow Dog In the wake of the anti-abortion bill that was signed into law… Read on

May 14, 2019
THE COLLECTION: NEW STYLES
Since 2014, Building 14 and a dedicated team of sewers have produced machine-sewn garments and accessories one at a time, with one sewer working a piece from start to finish. Today, we add brand new machine-sewn styles to The Collection, as well as a few revamped classics – all made by our production team in… Read on

May 7, 2019
NEW: LEISURE STYLES
“Water does not resist. Water flows.” – Margaret Atwood Capturing natural beauty and the natural world. Enchanting both inside and outside. That’s the idea behind our Leisure Collection. The collection’s versatility moves through the seasons with comfortable stretch knits in rib and cozy knits in waffle. You choose. Find more to love, like our tank… Read on

May 6, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 19/52 | 2019
“There is nothing like staying at home for real comfort.” ― Jane Austen, Emma Alabama Chanin’s Leisure Collection gets a refresh tomorrow with revamped classics and the addition of a few new pieces that are sure to become favorites. With relaxation on our minds, this week we share some of our favorite refreshing and easy… Read on

April 29, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 18/52 | 2019
“Really, I do not know whether my paintings are surrealist or not, but I do know that they are the frankest expression of myself.” ― Frida Kahlo Cinco de Mayo will be celebrated this Sunday, May 5th. Author Isabel Bueno of National Geographic said of the holiday: “For Mexicans…as well as Mexican-American in the United… Read on

March 26, 2019
A SPRING COLLECTION
the kindest words my father said to me women like you drown oceans – rupi kaur The body makes complicated curves, and they bend, stand, and turn in intricate ways. The female form in particular can be a study in softness and power—more of one than the other, and the reverse. We have been taught to… Read on

March 25, 2019
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“I write for those women who do not speak, for those who do not have a voice because they were so terrified, because we are taught to respect fear more than ourselves. We’ve been taught that silence would save us, but it won’t.” ― Audre Lorde In our final post in the series honoring Women’s… Read on

March 18, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 12/52 | 2019
“I do not wish them [women] to have power over men; but over themselves.” ― Mary Wollstonecraft Whether it was the right to vote, the rights to racial and gender equality, the right for control over their own bodies, or the myriad of other causes taken up by women throughout history, the activists and leaders… Read on

March 11, 2019
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“To create one’s world in any of the arts takes courage.” ― Georgia O’Keeffe In celebration of Women’s History Month, this week, explore the artists who, drawing from their own unique outlook on the world, have used their work to convey the gamut of universal truths, emotions, and experiences. “The inconvenient spectacle of Frida Kahlo”… Read on

March 4, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 10/52 | 2019
“The most courageous act is still to think for yourself. Aloud.” ― Coco Chanel To honor Women’s History Month, every Monday in March we will be celebrating influential women in the spheres of art, activism, and writing. For decades (more like centuries) women’s experiences had only been seen through the lenses of those who society… Read on

February 25, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 9/52 | 2019
“Education is for improving the lives of others and for leaving your community and the world better than you found it.” ― Marian Wright Edelman The affect a teacher can have on the life of her student can be monumental. From instilling a love of learning and fostering a sense of self confidence, to encouraging… Read on

February 18, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 8/52 | 2019
“You must never be fearful about what you are doing when it is right.” ― Rosa Parks At the heart of the crusades for equality and justice that African-Americans have fought decades for are the activists and organizers, and often those vital roles were undertaken by women. The third post in our series honoring Black… Read on

February 12, 2019
LEISURE: WINTER COZY
Organic cotton waffle knit and soft rib knit are the basis of our Leisure collection. Offering both a sturdy, insulated fabric and a light, stretchy fabric has allowed us to design lounge separates in a variety of styles from intimates to layering pieces to a casual pullover for outside wear. These styles are pieces we… Read on

February 11, 2019
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN 7/52 | 2019
“The artist creates the material that we look back upon as part of history. ” ― Roy DeCarava As Black History Month continues, we explore some of the supremely talented women who have, across the decades, created beautiful, thought-provoking, and enduring works of art through the mediums of painting, quilting, sculpture, performance art, and photography…. Read on

February 8, 2019
PROJECT THREADWAYS: NOTES FROM THE FIELD #3
Welcome to 1972. The Rolling Stones just landed at Muscle Shoals Regional Airport to record three of their classic songs: “Wild Horses,” “You Got To Move On,” and “Brown Sugar.” Aretha Franklin recorded what was considered the first big hit of her career, “I Never Loved a Man (The Way I Love You).” Across the… Read on

February 4, 2019
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“History has shown us that courage can be contagious and hope can take on a life of its own.” ― Michelle Obama February 1st ushered in Black History Month in the United States. In celebration, each week this month we will be focusing on inspiring African-American women in the realms of art, education, and activism…. Read on

January 28, 2019
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“Society as a whole benefits immeasurably from a climate in which all persons, regardless of race or gender, may have the opportunity to earn respect, responsibility, advancement, and remuneration based on ability.” ― Sandra Day O’Connor On January 29th, 1926 Violette Anderson became the first African-American woman to practice law before the Supreme Court. To… Read on

January 15, 2019
THE ALABAMA CHANIN COLLECTION

November 27, 2018
GIVING TUESDAY
As the “Global Day of Giving”, Giving Tuesday began seven years ago when the United Nations Foundation and the 92nd Street Y in New York City sought a way to turn attention away from the consumerism of Black Friday and focus on the spirit of giving. On this year’s day of giving, we are here… Read on

October 25, 2018
NEW PAPER PATTERNS FROM THE SCHOOL OF MAKING
As we continue to build out our paper pattern library, today The School of Making releases the Maggie Dress, Full Wrap Skirt, Alabama Sweater, Walking Cape, Unisex T-Shirt, T-Shirt Top, and Baby Bundle patterns in paper versions. Previously only offered in digital forms, these patterns will add new dimension and styling options to your hand-crafted wardrobe…. Read on

October 9, 2018
ROSANNE CASH + THE RIVER & THE THREAD
Recently, we were honored to have longtime friend Rosanne Cash approach us to collaborate on a special project. She worked with Bldg. 14 to print and produce t-shirts dedicated to her album, “The River and the Thread.” As you know, Alabama Chanin has a special relationship with this record and its message. Rosanne has served… Read on

October 2, 2018
COLLECTION: PLAYS WELL WITH OTHERS
Through Bldg. 14—the design and manufacturing operation of Alabama Chanin which focuses on machine sewn garments and goods—we have been able to create a line of accessibly priced, 100% organic cotton t-shirts. The Clean Tees were released in early summer and take inspirations from streetwear, athleisure, and a casual lifestyle to create unisex styles. The… Read on

October 1, 2018
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“Above all, don’t fear difficult moments. The best comes from them.” — Rita Levi-Montalcini, Nobel Prize-winning neurobiologist As October ushers in Breast Cancer Awareness Month, we are inspired to look back over the decades to the female doctors, chemists, biologists, and researchers who devoted their educations and careers to research and discoveries that have advanced… Read on

September 12, 2018
JOHN T.’S POTLIKKER PAPERS + A SYMPOSIUM
“Southern history encompasses migrations from Africa to the Americas, from farms to factories, from the rural South to the urban North and back again,” writes John T. Edge in his book, The Potlikker Papers: A Food History of the Modern South. In this book, John T. reports on 60-plus years of Southern food histories—from the… Read on

September 3, 2018
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“Every moment is an organizing opportunity, every person a potential activist, every minute a chance to change the world.” — Dolores Huerta From the right to vote to equal pay, women have never shied away from fighting for the rights inherently owed to them. Whether it’s worker safety, job protection during and after a pregnancy,… Read on

August 28, 2018
INSPIRATION: NATALIE’S DRESS
Depending on when you were born, the turtleneck may bring to mind any number of things: 1950s chic, 1960s bohemian, 1970s women’s activists, or (record scratch) 1990s Jerry Seinfeld-era goofiness. But the wonderful thing about a turtleneck is its timelessness. This particular style in our recent round of Collection updates is inspired by Natalie’s closet… Read on

August 27, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 35/52 | 2018
“Being creative is not so much the desire to do something as the listening to that which wants to be done: the dictation of the materials.” — Anni Albers To mark the 10th anniversary of the release of Natalie’s Alabama Stitch Book, this week we focus on exceptional women in the world of handcrafts. Thursday… Read on

August 21, 2018
KNOW YOUR BASICS: CORE TOPS
Within our Core styles, our design team refers to the garments in various ways. They think about the garments by their way of construction: hand-sewn by our artisans who work out of their homes or machine-sewn by the Bldg. 14 team who works at The Factory. Or they associate them by fabric type: our signature… Read on

August 20, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 34/52 | 2018
“I know nothing of man’s rights, or woman’s rights; human rights are all that I recognize.” — Sarah Moore Grimké On August 18, 1920, women were granted the right to vote in the United States. This past Saturday marked the 98th anniversary of that momentous shift in American culture, politics, and society. This week we… Read on

August 14, 2018
COLLECTION: AN EVOLUTION
Our Collection evolution continues with the introduction of new everday styles, embroideries, and colors. These updates tie together the work Natalie and our design team have created earlier in 2018 with what’s to come. We have quite a few updates to share and present them below in an easy-to-follow outline. NATALIE’S DRESS, TUNIC, AND PULLOVER… 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 6, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 32/52 | 2018
“One child, one teacher, one book, one pen can change the world.” — Malala Yousafzai With the first day of school just a few days away here in Alabama, our minds have turned toward inspiring teachers, optimistic students, and to the opportunities provided by a quality education. This week we decided to explore some of… Read on

July 26, 2018
T-SHIRT PATTERN: FITTED + UNISEX
We love a good T-shirt, and our summer has revolved around this classic garment with the launch of the Clean Tee collection from Bldg. 14, a special one-of-a-kind Graffiti Tee collection from Alabama Chanin, and the Frances Dress and Top pattern—our take on an effortless, relaxed T-shirt dress—launched earlier this month in The School of… Read on

July 13, 2018
RESIDENCY: THE HAMBIDGE CENTER
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

July 2, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 27/52 | 2018
“I declare to you that woman must not depend upon the protection of man, but must be taught to protect herself, and there I take my stand.” — Susan B. Anthony On the heels of Saudi Arabian women’s newly attained right to drive and just a few days away from the United States’ Fourth of… Read on

June 26, 2018
HAMBIDGE + PROCESS IN WORKS WITH NATALIE
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

June 25, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 26/52 | 2018
“She read books as one would breathe air, to fill up and live.” – Annie Dillard, The Living With summer underway and warm evenings, relaxing weekends, and long-awaited vacations offering the perfect opportunities to slow down and catch up on reading, this week we share a summer reading list—filled with classic works by native Alabamians…. Read on

June 19, 2018
GRAFFITI: RED, WHITE, AND BLUE
The “Summer of the T-shirt” continues, and today we introduce a (very) limited-edition run of one-of-a-kind graffiti tees as part of our new capsule collection, “Graffiti: Red, White, and Blue”. The tees are made from recycled cotton t-shirts and are a callback to the early days of Alabama Chanin (more on that here) and Natalie’s… Read on

June 5, 2018
THE SUMMER OF THE T-SHIRT
It’s the summer of the T-shirt at Alabama Chanin. Next Tuesday, we’re launching The Clean Tee program from our Bldg. 14 manufacturing facility. Later in the summer, we’ll introduce one-of-a-kind “graffiti tees”—each hand sewn and uniquely stenciled. Today, to kick off the summer of the T-shirt, we share inspiration and insight about the T-shirt from The… Read on

June 4, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 23/52 | 2018
“The white T-shirt is like a blank canvas – eternally versatile.” Edward Enninful Whether stark white and paired with jeans for the epitome of cool or emblazoned with a bold political statement, the t-shirt has held a special place in the hearts of most since Marlon Brando donned one in1951’s A Streetcar Named Desire…. Read on

May 30, 2018
Q&A WITH CHEF REBECCA WILCOMB
Rebecca Wilcomb has worked for and under the tutelage of several renowned chefs, including Keith Pooler at Harvest and Ana Sortun at Oleana, both in Cambridge, Massachusetts. Even so, it is safe to say that she has found a place to truly shine at Herbsaint in New Orleans, Chef Donald Link’s flagship restaurant. After moving to… Read on

May 15, 2018
NEW COLLECTION STYLES
In March, we introduced new Collection designs on the Spring Equinox. Two months later, as we begin to dip our toes into summer, we expand on the Collection with a handful of new designs to welcome the change of seasons. Even though our designs are not classed to a particular season, we do find inspiration… Read on

May 14, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 20/52 | 2018
“I think it’s so vitally important that all people in this world are involved in the process of discovery.” – Mae Jemison From the United States’ first manned space shuttle mission in 1961 to today’s exploration of Mars, outer space has always been a place of fascination and discovery. To honor the May 5th anniversary… Read on

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 16, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 16/52 | 2018
“We have forgotten how to be good guests, how to walk lightly on the earth as its other creatures do.” – Barbara Shelley Earth Day, which has been celebrated in the United States on April 22nd for the past 48 years, serves as a reminder to us to treat all aspects of the Earth—water, land,… Read on

April 2, 2018
THE FACTORY + ALABAMA CHANIN | 14/52 | 2018
“I think the degree of a nation’s civilization may be measured by the degree of enlightenment of its women.” – Helen Keller, “My Future as I See It,” Metropolitan Magazine, 1904 Throughout history women have been leaders, organizers, and advocates against injustices of many forms; from voting rights to racial and gender equality. As the… Read on

March 28, 2018
NATALIE + ELIZABETH SUZANN
We’ve long been admirers of Liz Pape and her team at Elizabeth Suzann. The Nashville-based company holds quality clothing and mindful consumption at its heart—paying strict attention to detail, respecting the people they work with, their company culture, and the environment. The garments that Elizabeth Suzann produces are cut and sewn locally (sound familiar?) out… Read on

January 30, 2018
THREE CARDIGANS
We’re longing for warmer weather and thinking about late spring and early summer when our cardigans transform from layering pieces to simply “outerwear”. Here are three variations on the classic cardigan design. We love their range of fabrics and fit. The Crop Cardigan One of the first machine-sewn styles we developed through our machine manufacturing… Read on

January 23, 2018
MADE WITH LOVE. MADE BY US.
This Valentine’s Day, plan a night in—our Leisure Collection makes lounging comfortable, stylish, and sustainable. Dare we say you might even wear some of the garments out into the world. We’ve designed undergarments and layering styles like our tank, boyshorts, and a long sleep dress in soft organic cotton rib-knit and a cozy cardigan, turtleneck,… Read on

December 31, 2017
2017: THE YEAR IN REVIEW
The past year has been one in which we’ve continually searched for beauty and hope; undoubtedly, 2017 has been a year unlike any other. As a company, our response to this year has been to look within and search for new meaning in what we do, to seek inspiration in the work of others, and—perhaps… Read on

November 29, 2017
CHERRY BOMBE: THE COOKBOOK
You might have noticed that, while the mainstream culinary world might still be considered a bit of a boys’ club, more and more women are working their asses off to earn their spots in the food world. Take, for example, the ladies behind Cherry Bombe, a biannual magazine founded by Kerry Diamond and Claudia Wu,… Read on

November 7, 2017
GET COZY WITH OUR NEW LEISURE COLLECTION
Our Leisure Collection offers everything you’ll need to get cozy at home—organic knit loungewear, soft throws, soulful music, and sweet treats. Wrap up, make a Brandy Milk Punch (pg. 9 of the Southern Foodways Alliance Guide to Cocktails) or bake up a batch of cookies (The Cherry Bombe Cookbook shares a recipe for Whole Wheat Chocolate Chip),… Read on

November 3, 2017
UPDATED ALABAMA CHANIN CORE CLUB
A culmination of our favorite Core Essential styles, the Alabama Chanin Core Club includes five styles bundled together in one shipment with over 20% savings. Featured in Vogue, the Alabama Chanin Core Club provides a perfect sampling of basic pieces to take your wardrobe through the year. The styles include The Easy Dress with cap… Read on

October 17, 2017
MORE COLLECTION
Layer up this fall with our new Collection styles. We’ve added basic and embellished apron-smock designs that were originally introduced in our Signature | Eveningwear Collection. Our fitted and stretchy rib Core Essentials wear beautifully underneath these styles. P.S.: Read more about our Collection here and look for artist inspiration on the Journal. View our… Read on

INSPIRATION: LEE BONTECOU
This post has been updated from the original post on October 17, 2017. We’re revisiting our love of Lee Bontecou as our most recent Marine update is inspired by the words and life of Zora Neale Hurston, and the artistry of Vija Celmins (more coming soon), and Bontecou. Lee Bontecou has always been difficult to categorize, as her work reflects elements of Minimalism, Abstract Expressionism, and Feminist art. She was a true pioneer in the… Read on

October 10, 2017
THE ARTIST AT WORK: THE SMOCK
In the past, we have looked to other artists’ personal styles to inspire elements of our Collections—Frida Kahlo, Anni Albers, and Georgia O’Keeffe, to name a few. As part of our most recent Signature | Eveningwear Collection, our design team was drawn to the idea of the artist at work—how artists can combine their media,… Read on

October 5, 2017
2017 BUILD A WARDROBE: THE DRAWSTRING PANT
As the final installment of our 2017 Build a Wardrobe subscription, we introduce the Drawstring Pant Pattern. Flattering on all body types and adaptable to any wardrobe or season, the pattern offers four length options for the pant (shorts, knee-length shorts, cropped pant, and long pant), three skirt length options (short, mid-length, and long), and… Read on

October 3, 2017
NEW SIGNATURE | EVENINGWEAR
The Alabama Chanin Signature | Eveningwear Collection is designed with distinctive style in mind—so that you will have a special piece for your special occasion. To complement a unique sense of style, we introduce new designs for evening and reintroduce classic Bridal silhouettes in our new collection. The color palette includes a traditional White, along… Read on

September 19, 2017
AIR LOVE
Natalie lived and worked as a stylist and filmmaker at the tail end of the 1990s before landing in New York to begin the great, big adventure that ultimately became Alabama Chanin. If you don’t know about Natalie’s journey, look back at this post, this post, and this post on our Journal and listen to… Read on

August 1, 2017
MARIA CORNEJO
If you attended or read about any of our Makeshift events, you already know how much we respect and admire designer Maria Cornejo. She has been both conscious and vocal about fashion’s impact on the environment for many years—certainly before “sustainability” became a buzz word. Much of her design approach focuses on efficiency, and so… Read on

July 25, 2017
SUMMER STYLING NOTES
Putting together an outfit can be a seamless task—or take a couple of tries to get the right combination. Today, we show you simple examples of how to pair and wear our latest Core Essentials. The Halter Keep it simple by pairing The Halter (our newest style) with pants or a skirt in the same… Read on

July 11, 2017
CORE STYLES : NEW SIZE OFFERING
Garment sizing is an issue that all women contend with—and an issue we have had many conversations about here at Alabama Chanin. One of the key components of our book, Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns was instruction on how to customize garments to fit your unique body shape—whatever it may be. In an effort to expand… Read on

July 7, 2017
FASHION, POLITICS, AND PATRIOTISM
Since America’s earliest days, individuals have used clothing and fashion to project their social status and political ideals. Even the first colonists used clothing to demonstrate their wealth or political status. Purchasing power meant social prominence and cultural importance. Some communities, like the Puritans and Amish communities, used their clothing as a different type of… Read on

June 27, 2017
GEORGIA O’KEEFFE
“Nothing is less real than realism ― details are confusing. It is only by selection, by elimination, by emphasis, that we get the real meaning of things.” – Georgia O’Keeffe Georgia O’Keeffe is undoubtedly considered one of America’s greatest and most influential painters. She was a key figure in the emergence and advancement of American modernism… Read on

May 26, 2017
IRVING PENN: BEYOND BEAUTY
“A good photograph is one that communicates a fact, touches the heart, and leaves the viewer a changed person for having seen it; it is in one word, effective.” – Irving Penn. Best known for his fashion photography and portraiture, Irving Penn spent over six decades perfecting a unique style, with painstaking attention to detail and… Read on

May 9, 2017
INSPIRATION: ANNI ALBERS’ PANT SUIT
Anni Albers challenged artists to reject “recipes” and repetition and the safety of what they know will work. She encouraged artists to step away from formulaic making strategies, replacing them “with the adventure of new exploring.” Her life and work are a mirror for finding rich complexity and diversity within simplicity. The photograph of Anni… Read on

March 21, 2017
RINNE’S HARVEST SERIES
Rinne Allen, collaborator and inspiration behind our most recent capsule collection, is the creator of a series of photo essays titled “Harvest”, a number of which have been published by T Magazine, of The New York Times. The Harvest Series is a first-person look at our regional agricultural systems, examining the individuals who work in… 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

February 22, 2017
NATIONAL CHILI DAY (NEXT WEEK @ THE FACTORY)
Chili con carne, usually just called “chili” around these parts, may have a Spanish name but it’s an undeniably American dish—with more than one group of people claiming some form of ownership. The earliest written description of chili came from J.C. Clopper of Houston, Texas. In his writings about a visit to San Antonio in… Read on

February 21, 2017
CORE BASICS: YEAR-ROUND STYLES
In an introduction to her third book, Natalie writes, “I want to dress women like me, modern women who may not have perfect bodies or stylists to help them make wardrobe choices but who want to make their way through their busy lives with beauty and grace, who want to sustain valuable traditions and live… Read on

February 14, 2017
NEW CORE BASICS
Donna Karan’s approach to design has been a recurring topic of conversation on our Journal and an ongoing source of design inspiration for Natalie. From a 2012 Journal post: Karan became a presence in the fashion world as the women’s rights movement found its footing in the 1970s and women began working in the business… Read on

January 27, 2017
ARTIST SERIES: RAQUEL RODRIGO
We are continually intrigued by artists who conceive new ways to create old-fashioned arts. Cross stitch, which is one of the oldest forms of embroidery, was originally used to embroider textiles in ancient Egypt and China. Today, it is often used as a way to decorate clothing and fabric with flowers or patterns. Recently, Spanish… Read on

January 24, 2017
INSPIRATION: FRIDA’S GARDEN
Among many recurring subjects in Frida Kahlo’s artwork are flowers, foliage, and fruits. She used this imagery to celebrate Mexican history and culture. The garden at her home, Casa Azul, was first started by her parents and was filled with ivy, roses, and apricot and orange trees. As an adult, Frida and her husband Diego… Read on

January 4, 2017
FRIDA’S FIESTAS + MACAROONS
When she was a teenager, Guadalupe Rivera Marin moved to her father and stepmother’s home in Coyoacan, Mexico City—a home that was well known by friends and neighbors both for its famous occupants and the opulent parties they loved to throw. Guadalupe’s father was muralist Diego Rivera and his wife was painter Frida Kahlo, both… Read on

January 3, 2017
A COLLECTION INSPIRED BY FRIDA KAHLO
Welcome to the new year. In the spirit of the fresh start a new year brings, we present a new Collection. About the Collection During the summer of 2016 on the Journal, we started an artist series that profiled female artists and designers like Frida Kahlo, Louise Nevelson, Clarie McCardell, Sonia Delaunay, and Anni Albers…. Read on

November 29, 2016
#GIVINGTUESDAY
The days following the Thanksgiving holiday have become inextricably associated with commerce: Black Friday, Small Business Saturday, Cyber Monday – these are all days to bargain hunt and search for gifts. But over the past five years, a movement has been growing to change the conversation on the Tuesday after Thanksgiving, now known as #GivingTuesday…. Read on

November 16, 2016
THE JEMIMA CODE
America’s food culture comprises an undeniable mix of influences from around the world. African-American women have a significant impact on the foods we eat and have eaten for centuries. Unfortunately, that impact has often been overlooked or overshadowed by racial stereotypes like that of “Aunt Jemima” and other tropes—fetishized mammy stereotypes and caricatures that coopted… Read on

November 11, 2016
THE SPIDER IS AN ODE TO MY MOTHER.
“The Spider is an ode to my mother. She was my best friend. Like a spider, my mother was a weaver. My family was in the business of tapestry restoration, and my mother was in charge of the workshop. Like spiders, my mother was very clever. Spiders are friendly presences that eat mosquitoes. We know… Read on

October 21, 2016
HAUNTS TOUR: THE SHOALS
The Shoals is an area rich in folklore, dating back to the 1800s. And this time of year, that folklore comes alive in tales of souls haunting historic homes and spaces. Fifteen years ago, local historian and author Debra Glass was inspired to create a ghost tour that would tell some of the forgotten stories… Read on

October 20, 2016
NEW DIY COLLECTION FROM THE SCHOOL OF MAKING
Today, we launch updates to our DIY Collection with new kits, colorways, patterns, and designs. We’re introducing new silhouettes while offering some of our customer favorites with new stencils and treatments. New projects include the Anna’s Garden Maggie Tunic and Polka Dot Walking Cape. Our expanded selection includes a range of projects for the home, like the… 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

September 13, 2016
SONIA DELAUNAY
“He who knows how to appreciate color relationships, the influence of one color on another, their contrasts and dissonances, is promised an infinitely diverse imagery.” – Sonia Delaunay Sonia Delaunay (1885 – 1979), alongside her husband and fellow artist Robert Delaunay, co-founded the Orphism art movement, an offshoot of the Cubist style that focused on… Read on

August 31, 2016
ALISON SAAR
Alison Saar, contemporary sculptor and mixed-media artist, was born to acclaimed assemblage artist Betye Saar and Richard Saar, a painter and conservator. In her work, Betye (now 90-years old) often addresses the journey and identity of the African American woman—concepts that Alison has built upon as she explores her own family and racial identity through… Read on

August 16, 2016
ANNI ALBERS
“A longing for excitement can be satisfied without external means within oneself: For creating is the most intense excitement one can come to know.” – Anni Albers Anni Albers was a multi-disciplinary artist best remembered for her work in textile design. She trained at the Bauhaus school in Germany, where she met her future husband and… Read on

July 31, 2016
FRIDA KAHLO’S DRESS
Frida Kahlo was both surrealist painter and unwitting fashion icon. Her image is immediately recognizable and her clothing was carefully chosen to reflect her feelings about femininity, politics, and her own physical limitations. Frida’s vibrantly colored and richly embroidered garments were tweaked versions of traditional Mexican clothing, with corset-style bodices and long flowing skirts. But… Read on

July 29, 2016
DESIGN + ERIN REITZ
A few weeks back, we introduced Erin Connelly (now Reitz), the newest member of our design team. She co-owns a store dedicated to selling American-made goods for the home, called The Commons. But what we didn’t mention is that she has extensive experience and a deep passion for the design industry. Erin’s mother taught her… Read on

July 20, 2016
LOUISE NEVELSON + THE COLOR BLACK
“I fell in love with black; it contained all color. It wasn’t a negation of color. It was an acceptance. Because black encompasses all colors. Black is the most aristocratic color of all… You can be quiet, and it contains the whole thing.” – Louise Nevelson American sculptor Louise Nevelson became known for her large, three-dimensional… 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

June 9, 2016
MAKING AND GIVING
Over the years, through connections with our DIY community and The School of Making programming, we have seen how passionate and virtually inexhaustible our fellow makers can be. We have also witnessed them making connections through craft that extend outward into their lives, creating lifelong friendships and bonds. Author Christine Chitnis and her mother attended… Read on

May 25, 2016
CREATIVITY, PROCESS, AND THE PURSUIT OF IMAGINATION
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

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

May 10, 2016
ARTISAN MADE: HAWKS AND DOVES
Last December, Natalie was invited by Chef Ashley Christensen to speak at Raleigh’s Contemporary Art Museum, presenting a lecture celebrating women in art and design. Ashley, who has been a constant source of inspiration for us, is deeply involved in the organization and in her community in Raleigh. As a thank you gift, Natalie received… Read on

May 5, 2016
THE HISTORY OF TAILORING
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 appears in the Oxford Dictionary in 1297, comes from a French word—tailler—meaning “to… Read on

May 4, 2016
THE HISTORY OF MOTHER’S DAY
It has been said that holidays like Mother’s Day are actually manufactured celebrations, created only to sell cards and gifts. It is not really true that Mother’s Day was created to boost sales and create commerce, but that’s not to say that the evolution of the holiday didn’t cause quite a commotion, especially by its… Read on

March 30, 2016
NATALIE BAXTER + INSTITUTE 193 Q&A
Some subjects are so polarizing that almost any discussion of them is fraught with tension or awkwardness. And so it is with the topic of gun violence. No matter what your stance is, whenever we are faced with a tragic mass-shooting incident, many of us feel powerless; we respond with anger or by shutting the… Read on

March 8, 2016
ARTISAN-MADE HOME
We often speak of collaboration and of creating a community of artists to share ideas. This philosophy is central to our artisan-based way of making. And when we stock our stores online and at The Factory, we offer a carefully curated selection of items that complement our own—always made by other artisans who follow a… Read on

February 4, 2016
BUILD A WARDROBE: SINGLE- OR DOUBLE-LAYERED
When joining our Build a Wardrobe program, participants make design choices for each of the four garments they create. When planning a design for any garment, the first decision you make is whether the garment will be made with a single- or double-layer of our organic cotton jersey. Some embroidery or embellishment choices will make… Read on

January 12, 2016
CREATIVE PROCESS: CATHERINE BURNS (+ THE MOTH)
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

December 22, 2015
CRAFT AND IMPACT
In March of 2015, The School of Making launched a partnership with Nest—a non-profit that joins together with artisans across the world to bring about positive social impact through sustainable development. Nest works specifically with artisans because they are often community-based businesses or organizations; they collaborate with those artisans to provide tools, training, infrastructure, and… Read on

December 1, 2015
WARDROBE ESSENTIALS
Back in 1985, Donna Karan struck a chord with women across the world by introducing the concept of “7 Easy Pieces”—her collection of garments around which a woman could build an entire wardrobe. She created a system of dressing where a few interchangeable garments, used in different combinations, would create a versatile closet of stylish… Read on

October 2, 2015
ON DESIGN: WORKING FOR SOCIAL CHANGE
The design world is filled with innovators making products that can impact the human experience for good or for ill. The idea of designing and making with positive, spirited intention is growing far beyond its early influencers like Samuel Mockbee’s Rural Studio or the now defunct Architecture for Humanity—inspired by Mockbee’s project. Today, AIGA—one of… Read on

August 14, 2015
POSTCARDS FROM AMERICA
Dear Sissi, You might not know this, but Maggie and I recently took a transcontinental (well, almost) train trip to my “Alabama on Alabama” show at Heath Ceramics in San Francisco. We stopped for a night in Chicago (which was wonderful) and when we boarded the California Zephyr, took our seats and started to move… Read on

July 30, 2015
AUGUST + SWATCH OF THE MONTH
The months of June and July were wonderful and hectic in lots of beautiful and fun ways. There was plenty of travel, including our trip to Blackberry Farm and the cross-country train trip that Maggie and I took to San Francisco. With August comes a welcome bit of calm, just before our house gets back… Read on

June 26, 2015
FROM THE ARCHIVES: BEADED FACETS COAT
This week, we take another look at the lives our clothes have led and the memories forever linked with them. For some reason, we associate memories with objects—or in this case, clothing. Every time I look inside, I think that my closet is, in a small way, some sort of prism through which I see… Read on

May 21, 2015
DIY COLLECTION: NEW T-SHIRTS
We wrote earlier this week about scale and patterns, and how we reduced and enlarged our New Leaves stencil artwork to create graphic variations of the design. One of our projects that looks at scale is a series of DIY Unisex T-shirts. The shirts feature our New Leaves stencil in five different sizes and can… Read on

May 14, 2015
HEATHER ROSS: ALABAMA STUDIO SEWING PATTERNS
Today, we continue our series of blog posts from some of our favorite makers highlighting DIY garments, customized using the techniques and patterns of Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns. We last heard from Amy Herzog, who described the fit issues she has faced over the years—particularly garment length. This week, we are blushingly grateful to post… Read on

May 8, 2015
AGATHA WHITECHAPEL: PATCHWORK PHOTOS
For many of us who call ourselves “mother”, there are two types of children in our lives: those that are born to us and those that come into our lives and become “ours” for life. For me, this was the case with Agatha Whitechapel, daughter of my dear friend (who I commonly refer to as,… Read on

May 7, 2015
MAY + SWATCH OF THE MONTH
I am happy to greet May, partly because April came “as advertised”—dropping buckets of rain—but also because May is filled with so many good things. So many, in fact, that I might feel differently by month’s end, but for now I am ready. There are workshops, both at home and afar. Maggie finishes school at… Read on

May 4, 2015
MOTHERS AND DAUGHTERS @ BLACKBERRY FARM
I have extolled the virtues of Blackberry Farm in Walland, Tennessee, many times. It’s a place of calm, and deliciousness, and of fellowship. The land and the people create a singular sense of place that is joyous and memorable. There really is no place in the world that feels quite like the Smoky Mountains—as artists… Read on

April 23, 2015
MOM T-SHIRT
As we’ve written in the past, there are many ways to define a mother. Merriam Webster opts for “a female parent” but we at Alabama Chanin feel the term mother is often more verb than noun. A mother can also be a member of your “family of choice” –or any woman that has offered you… Read on

April 15, 2015
FRIENDS OF THE CAFÉ: LISA DONOVAN + ANGIE MOSIER
Sometimes when you meet a kindred spirit, you feel that connection immediately. It’s safe to say that I felt that bond when I first met Angie Mosier a dozen (or so) years ago. She laughs in a way that draws you in immediately—you just have to know what she’s laughing at. She also throws a… Read on

March 25, 2015
IN THE KITCHEN: RAY EAMES
…the role of the architect, or the designer, is that of a very good, thoughtful host, all of whose energy goes into trying to anticipate the needs of his guests—those who enter the building and use the objects in it. – Charles Eames Our favorite Eames quote above is now on our café tables, the production… Read on

March 17, 2015
NEST + ALABAMA CHANIN: PARTNERSHIP FOR LEARNING
When we opened our Bldg. 14 manufacturing facility in the summer of 2013, we knew that we had to commit to learning about the ever-changing manufacturing industry—and that the learning curve would be steep. But as we began to educate ourselves, we found that no manual or set of rules existed for us to consult…. Read on

March 9, 2015
THÉRÈSE DE DILLMONT (AND GAUGUIN)
While writing this post about March and our Swatch of the Month, I mentioned the Encyclopedia of Needlework by Thérèse de Dillmont which I am currently reading in preparation for a new book we are writing (yes, another book) on the tools of handwork. I became curious about the life of Thérèse de Dillmont who… Read on

February 26, 2015
MARCH + SWATCH OF THE MONTH
February is technically a short month, but it was so fast and furious that I had to make conscious efforts to be mindful AND productive. March looks to be just as busy, but in the best way—full of things I want to do and people I want to see. It is National Women’s History month,… Read on

February 17, 2015
TREND
I’ve been thinking a lot about trends recently. Honestly, I’ve been thinking about them a lot—for a very long time. Quite some time ago, I read a plaque in a National Park about ecological succession that changed the way I looked at trends forever (more on this next Tuesday). You see, ecological (or biological) succession… Read on

February 12, 2015
COMING SOON: ALABAMA STUDIO SEWING PATTERNS
The School of Making is firmly in place. Our new collection of DIY Kits is being loved (and completed) by many. The occasional frustration of writing a book is now replaced with the joy and pride of making something new and beautiful. Now, we can hardly believe that the arrival of Alabama Studio Sewing Patterns is just… Read on

February 2, 2015
ON DESIGN: THE SCHOOL OF BAUHAUS + CREATIVE PROCESS
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

January 5, 2015
WORN STORIES
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

December 2, 2014
#givingtuesday
#givingtuesday and #gratitude Today, December 2, 2014, is the second annual #GivingTuesday. “It’s a simple idea. Just find a way for your family, your community, your company, or your organization to come together to give something more. Then tell everyone you can about how you are giving. Join us and be a part of a global… Read on

ASANTE SANA
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

November 5, 2014
UNCONVENTIONAL & UNEXPECTED
I’ve never met Roderick Kiracofe, but, I’ve known about his quilt collection for a long time. I believe that I heard his name shortly after I returned to Alabama over a decade ago. In those early days, I was working with quilters to create the garments that would make up my first collections. My neighbors… Read on

October 24, 2014
TRAVEL: IVY GREEN + HELEN KELLER
This post is the first of our new travel series; look for side trips (and side bars) on your way to and from The Factory—and from here to there. With this series, you’ll find some history, a bit of folk art, good diners, great bars and splendid adventures. Pack your bag, plan your road trip,… Read on

October 17, 2014
HOW TO STUDY FASHION IN THE SOUTH
Written by Ted Ownby and Becca Walton Situated at the intersection of necessity and creativity, southern fashion lets us ask questions about place and historical context, power, and identity. Every garment has a designer, maker, wearer, and viewer, and we can study all of them. We can tell local stories about designers and seamstresses, farmers… Read on

October 6, 2014
THE HISTORY OF WORKSHOPS (+ NEW GROUP RATES)
Quite a few years ago, I loaded up the car with scissors, needles, and an array of other sewing supplies and took a trip with a group of friends and fellow stitchers to a women’s prison facility (at their invitation, of course). My friend Kyes had organized this meeting in the hopes of developing a… Read on

September 2, 2014
ALABAMA COTTON
Passion. It takes passion to make a difference. When you truly want something, you find a way to make it happen, naysayers be damned. In the moments when it seems your project is doomed for failure, you carry on. You learn to ask for help and to count your blessings. Our organic Alabama cotton is… Read on

August 29, 2014
MAKING PICTURES: THREE FOR A DIME EXHIBITION
One Saturday morning in the mid-1930s, Mancey Massengill, a wife and mother of two, saw people having their pictures made in a dime store photo booth in Batesville, Arkansas. According to her son Lance, “she watched close, and got the name off the camera, then wrote to the company and ordered the lens. She got… Read on

August 25, 2014
DESIGN: GAEL TOWEY
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

August 12, 2014
GRAVY #52 – LEARNING TO LOVE THE STRIP-MALL SOUTH
Thank you to the Southern Foodways Alliance for allowing us to share “I Fell Hard for Buford Highway” by John T. Edge. From Gravy #52: I grew up in the country. On fourteen acres of red Georgia clay, cut by gullies and skirted by cedars. I grew up fishtailing down gravel roads in pick-up trucks…. Read on

August 11, 2014
BUBBLES (+ INEZ HOLDEN)
Last year, I was introduced to Inez Holden over a glass of dry white wine at a fundraising event in our community. Mrs. Holden’s story, told with humor and passion, reminded me that the fashion industry runs deep here in our community. Before Alabama Chanin and Billy Reid, there was Bubbles Ltd. As Alabama Chanin… Read on

July 29, 2014
ALABAMA FASHION
We often speak about our home, our state, and our community that provides an incredible amount of inspiration for our work. We are not alone: friend and occasional collaborator, Billy Reid, also headquarters in the same community. It has been mentioned (and is remarkable) that Alabama has the third largest membership in the Council of… Read on

July 23, 2014
COMMUNITY COOKBOOKS (AND COOKS)
Community cookbooks – collections of recipes gathered by churches, women’s societies, rotary clubs, and other regional clubs and foundations – have been the foundation of home kitchens across America for decades. These collections often present an air of nostalgia, using old-fashioned techniques, offbeat ingredients, and occasionally include really great anecdotes. They are—in their best versions—a… Read on

July 11, 2014
THREE FOR A DIME: BEN SOLLEE
In collaboration with Maxine Payne and contributor Phillip March Jones, Alabama Chanin has invited a number of artists, writers, musicians, chefs, and creatives to offer up their own interpretation of the Massengill photographs in a series of posts for our Journal. The posts give voice to the images of the sometimes anonymous figures that appear… Read on

June 18, 2014
FRIENDS OF THE CAFÉ + CHRIS HASTINGS
Last week, we hosted our inaugural “Friends of the Café” Dinner, featuring chef Chris Hastings of Hot and Hot Fish Club. Chris and his team came to The Factory for an evening of superb food, lively conversation, and support for the Alabama Gulf Seafood organization.

June 16, 2014
HEIRLOOM #4: ROXIE MAE’S BUTCHER KNIFE
As part of our ongoing Heirloom series that focuses on the precious things we treasure – even though they might not be considered valuable by the rest of the world – we continue to tell stories of items that have been passed down through families, from one generation to the next. Today, we hear from… Read on

May 30, 2014
MAKESHIFT 2014: A RECAP
Two weeks ago, our team left New York feeling excited and energized—and with the conversation at The Standard the night before fresh on our minds. This was the third annual Makeshift, held in New York each spring during Design Week. Over the years the conversation has shifted—but our goal of learning how certain themes cross… Read on

May 16, 2014
MAKESHIFT 2014
MAKESHIFT began three years ago as a conversation about the intersection of the disciplines of design, craft, art, fashion, and DIY—and, on a bigger level, using this intersection as an agent of change in the world. Since then, we’ve explored making as individuals, and how making as a group can open conversations and build communities…. Read on

May 14, 2014
MAKESHIFT POP-UP SHOP + ALLISON MOORER
We are in New York City this week for our third year of the MAKESHIFT initiative. MAKESHIFT is, at its core, a conversation about the intersections of fashion, design, craft, and food, and how each discipline can better work together to elevate those principles. Alabama Chanin has set up shop at our friend Lisa Fox’s… Read on

April 30, 2014
THE FACTORY CAFÉ CHEF SERIES: THE KITCHEN SISTERS
This May, Alabama Chanin is featuring two of my personal heroines (and, now, dear friends) as part of our ongoing Chef Series at the café. They might not be chefs, but Davia Nelson and Nikki Silva are The Kitchen Sisters—independent producers who create radio stories for NPR and other public broadcast outlets. Davia and Nikki… Read on
February 27, 2014
DIY MEN’S CHECK T-SHIRT
Our newest men’s DIY Kit features the Check, our 2014 Stencil of the Year. The shirt is shown here worked in reverse appliqué, but there are various ways to work this stencil, including negative reverse appliqué and outside reverse appliqué, along with a variety of other techniques found in the Alabama Chanin Studio Book series…. Read on

February 21, 2014
HEIRLOOM #1: GRAM PERKINS’ BLANKET
Alabama Chanin has always aimed to make products that will last a lifetime – even multiple lifetimes. We create things that are both beautiful and durable and we embrace the ideas of Slow Design. But, once upon a time, Slow Design did not exist as a theory or a process; rather, it was simply how… Read on

February 18, 2014
A MANUFACTURING COLLABORATION: LITTLE RIVER SOCK MILL
Alabama Chanin recently partnered with our friend Gina Locklear of Little River Sock Mill (and Zkano) to create a line of Made in the USA, organic cotton socks as part of our new collection. We’ve written before about the textile and manufacturing history of the Shoals, and our current strides towards revitalizing manufacturing within our… Read on

January 31, 2014
THE LIBRARY (PART 2)
My love of books is no secret. I still have a decades-old public library card, probably obtained when I was about 8 or 9, printed on card stock and housed in a small, paper envelope. It was one of my most prized possessions as a child. Today’s library cards can be scanned and swiped, but… Read on

January 28, 2014
MAXINE PAYNE: THREE FOR A DIME
Lance and Evelyn Massengill In 2008, Maxine Payne, an Arkansas-based artist, self-published a book of photographs titled Making Pictures: Three For A Dime. She catalogued the work of the Massengill family who worked from 1937 to 1941 as itinerant photographers in rural Arkansas documenting farmers, young couples, babies, and anyone else who had a few… Read on

January 1, 2014
THE YEAR AHEAD
As 2013 was a great year for Alabama Chanin—one full of new projects, studio expansions, awards, good times with friends, travel, workshops, and bringing ideas and visions to full fruition—we are equally excited about the upcoming events for 2014 (stay up-to-date by subscribing to our mailing list). Our newest Collection will launch online at the… Read on

November 14, 2013
DIY MEN’S STAG T-SHIRT
Perfect for the nature-lover in your life, our Stag T-Shirt is part of a new series of Men’s DIY projects and is currently featured in our Handmade Holiday collection. Designed to be worn (and loved) by men and women alike, this adaptation of our basic t-shirt features a bold Stag stencil across the chest and… Read on

October 10, 2013
DIY MEN’S PIG T-SHIRT
Before Alabama Chanin existed in its current form, before the Journal, the Studio Books, the DIY Kits, even the website, we were a very small company. When I began working to create these garments, I was doing the majority of the making myself. That meant buying t-shirts from thrift stores around the community (or anywhere… Read on

September 19, 2013
DIY MEN’S EAGLE T-SHIRT
The Eagle T-Shirt is the second in a new series of Men’s DIY projects, designed in a style that is flattering to both men and women. The Eagle stencil has been in the Alabama Chanin library for several years now. We shared instructions on how to create the stencil and apply it to a basic… Read on

August 8, 2013
DIY MEN’S BEE SHIRT
The Alabama Chanin Studio Style DIY selections are expanding with the addition of Men’s DIY items. Many of you have been asking for more men’s options and this is the first in a series of new DIY Kits that we will feature in our online store. The Bee is one of the earliest stencils I… Read on

July 22, 2013
CLOSING: THE LIFE AND DEATH OF AN AMERICAN FACTORY
In Closing: The Life and Death of an American Factory, Cathy N. Davidson writes: “When the last worker passed through the doors of White Furniture Company in May of 1993, hardly anyone beyond the city limits of Mebane, North Carolina, noticed. In national terms, it made little difference that 203 men and women were out… Read on

July 8, 2013
FAYTHE LEVINE AND SIGN PAINTERS
Growing up in small-town Florence, Alabama, a trip into downtown meant a visit to colorful shops, recognized by equally colorful signs. Ye Ole General Store had a block letter, serif-type sign across the entranceway and inside, we could find canteens and hats and overalls for backyard battles and explorations. Next, we’d walk to Court Street… Read on

June 25, 2013
A. CHANIN
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

June 24, 2013
OVERDRESSED
Last month we wrote about Slow Design, specifically in contrast to Fast Fashion, as the death toll from a collapsed garment factory in Dhaka, Bangladesh rose by the hour, reaching 1,127. During the three weeks the tragedy made headlines, NPR’s “Fresh Air” broadcast an interview with Elizabeth Cline, author of Overdressed: The Shockingly High Cost of… Read on

May 10, 2013
HAPPY MOTHER’S DAY
Lately, we’ve dedicated several journal posts to Mom in anticipation of her holiday this Sunday. Mother’s Day often feels like a holiday remembered at the last minute – a rush to find a card, a brunch reservation in lieu of a gift. But when we started brainstorming for posts about mom a few months ago,… Read on

April 30, 2013
CHERRY BOMBE
Makers and doers Kerry Diamond and Claudia Wu, two friends and former Harper’s Bazaar colleagues, have teamed up to produce the first indie food magazine to celebrate women in the food world. Beautifully designed and expertly curated, Issue #1 – The Tastemaker Issue – will be released in May. I’ve just contributed to their Kickstarter… Read on

April 24, 2013
MOM AND THE CASSEROLE
I think that we all have memories of family dinner with Mom bringing one single bubbling hot dish to the table. I have a favorite casserole from childhood, something that my mother called “goulash” that I’m sure bears little resemblance to the actual Hungarian dish. I’m not sure that I’d even like it if I… Read on

April 23, 2013
THE CRAFT OF MIDWIFERY
I think it is pretty safe to say that midwifery is one of the first DIY skills in human existence. Certainly, the human body knows instinctively what to do when the time comes to birth a child. Still, I can’t imagine that we would have gotten very far as a species without someone learning how… Read on

March 18, 2013
YOU CAN’T FAKE FASHION (PART 2)
In 2005, I was inducted into The Council of Fashion Designers of America. Long before that time (and during my days as a stylist in Europe), I didn’t really know what the CFDA was (or did). However, the organization was founded in 1962 by Eleanor Lambert as a not-for-profit trade organization to support American womenswear,… Read on

February 27, 2013
SKIRT STEAK
Perhaps we too often think of women in the kitchen as just that: women (moms, wives) in the home kitchen, baking cookies and making dinner for their families. Whether this is because the “Chef” title has been dominated for so many years by men, or if it’s because we – those of us in the… Read on

February 26, 2013
ALABAMA CHANIN BASICS
We recently started a conversation on Real Women and fashion with Sara’s post “Too Fat For Fashion,” and your response has been lively, evocative and challenging. As we prepared to launch an extended ready-to-wear Basics section on our Alabama Chanin website, we found ourselves thinking more carefully about how our pieces fit different shapes, how they… Read on

February 25, 2013
DIY MANUFACTURING
As a small business with an artisan-based production system, we are aware that Alabama Chanin is unique in the way that we create our products. We would not exist without the skill and hard work of our artisans. Our cottage industry-style method of production is a subject of interest at many trunk shows, workshops, and… Read on
January 28, 2013
DR. RUTH (AND THE LOVE OF LITERATURE)
There is no denying that I love stories and storytelling. In various and changing stages of my life, I have transformed from an obsessed to a simply avid reader, and everything in between. These days, I have to admit that I have a hard time staying awake long enough to get through all the books… Read on

January 25, 2013
LES BLANK (A LOVE LETTER)
I’ve written a couple of times about what happens when your heroes and heroines become friends. For me, it brings about a feeling of connection to the ever-expanding universe; all things are possible. A girl from the countryside in Alabama can dine with royalty (in all its meanings). The picture above is proof. When I look… Read on

January 18, 2013
THE HEART: BECKY BURNS PHILLIPS
These days, you don’t think twice about hearing a woman’s voice on the radio. There are surely female deejays or journalists on your local station. NPR broadcasts the voices and stories of women like The Kitchen Sisters or Terry Gross among others. Alabama Chanin favorite, Elizabeth Cook has her own show, “Apron Strings,” on Sirius… Read on

January 17, 2013
FIVE GENERATIONS (AND A BABY BIB)
I’ve mentioned this a few times here on the Journal: I am a grandmother. And in the photo above, you see our sweet Stella Ruth. Her hands, clearly visible, are surrounded by my son Zach’s, my dad’s, my grandmother’s, and mine. That’s right—five generations. You may have seen pictures of five generations in newspapers and… Read on

January 14, 2013
FROM SARA: TOO FAT FOR FASHION
I’m going to admit something that might seem a little pedestrian to some of you, perhaps a little familiar to others: I watch a lot of television, all kinds. I’m simultaneously a television snob and a consumer of frivolous content. I’m not sure how I rationalize all of that, but to quote Whitman in a… Read on

October 29, 2012
THE QUILTS OF GEE’S BEND
In anticipation of our upcoming event at Grocery on Home, I’ve been going through The Quilts of Gee’s Bend, by William Arnett, Alvia Wardlaw, Jane Livingston, and John Beardsley again this week. It’s only serving to make me really excited. The book is rich with history and filled with gorgeous photographs of hand-stitched quilts and the… Read on

October 24, 2012
TASIA’S TABLE
Tasia Malakasis, owner of local fromagerie Belle Chevre, is a dear friend of Alabama Chanin. She, like so many Southern women, has never met a stranger and can spend an afternoon discussing recipes, bourbon, and the weather, with genuine ease and enthusiasm. Her big heart and zeal for life are not easily contained and show… Read on

October 22, 2012
ADVANCED STYLE
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

October 15, 2012
BBQED DRESSES
BBQ, Barbeque, Bar-B-Que, Bar-B-Q. However you spell it, we are awash in this delicious madness here in North Alabama. Mention barbecue and you will have an instant conversation starter: “Mustard based sauce!” “Are you kidding me? No way! Ketchup!” “What! Please don’t tell me you are putting mayonnaise on that meat?” These are the ingredients that… Read on

October 8, 2012
“AS LONG AS I CAN SEE, I’LL BE TRYING TO THREAD THAT NEEDLE.”
Recently, I had the opportunity to visit the Frist Center for the Visual Arts in Nashville, Tennessee, to view “Creation Story: Gee’s Bend Quilts and the Art of Thornton Dial.” I spent forever moving from one quilt to the next – leaning as closely in as I could without being reprimanded. No matter how many… Read on

October 4, 2012
DIY WARDROBE + “THE BIG SWAP”
Last week, a group of friends in our community gathered together at one friend’s home to fill the living room with piles of their unwanted clothing that they then “shopped”. Part of the “Swap, Don’t Shop” movement, these women, friends and family, got together for their bi-annual clothing exchange party called ‘The Big Swap’. Interested in this… Read on

October 2, 2012
PINUPS
I recently read a NYTimes article about the comeback of curvy body shapes among the Y- generation. It seems that an increasing number of women in their 20s and 30s are finding the “calendar girl” silhouette appealing. Along with a curvaceous silhouette, the look includes Betty Page style bangs, swing skirts, and bright red lips…. Read on

September 20, 2012
TEA TOWELS
Some months back, a bowl of tea towels became a permanent installation on my kitchen table. We use them as napkins for breakfast, lunch, dinner, and just about every moment in between. I found one in the car yesterday that had served as an impromptu placemat for one of my daughter, Maggie’s fruit pops. I… Read on

August 30, 2012
DIY THURSDAY: TRACY REESE
Continuing our conversation around design, craft and fashion, this week we present a Tracy Reese pattern from Vogue Designer Patterns for DIY Thursday. In all my years as a designer, I have not had the chance to meet Tracy, although I have been familiar with her work since the launch of her collection in the… Read on

August 29, 2012
BREAD PUDDING + VISITORS
Last month, I had the incredible honor of hosting a studio visit from three amazing women who have inspired me for years. On a beautiful summer day, Rosanne Cash, Gael Towey, and Maira Kalman arrived in Florence for a two day sewing workshop and adventure. The idea for the trip was hatched on a spring… Read on

August 20, 2012
STUDIO WEEKEND WORKSHOP HIGHLIGHTS
With another Studio Weekend under our belt, we are happy to begin the work week with new friends, ideas, and projects.

August 17, 2012
THE HEART: ARTISAN NATURAL DYEWORKS
Sustainable. Natural. Organic. These are all words that are integral to the Alabama Chanin identity. Our core values compel us to take a holistic approach to our design methods, looking at every aspect, quality, material or person that may play a part in our production process. This way of thinking led us toward using natural… Read on

August 7, 2012
THE SEWING TABLE
Alabama Chanin is a celebration of deep Southern roots merged with contemporary style. As a company, we strive to connect to those roots by integrating age-old skills and techniques into our current work. Along the way, we have made new connections, created relationships with friends and pieces that play a role in our story. There… Read on

July 2, 2012
MADE IN AMERICA (PART 2)
We recently shared companies that are making quality products in the United States. To continue this ‘Made in America’ post from last week, we feature another round of companies who practice the same excellence and pride. Some of these products have been staples in my daily wear for ages; they’ve held up to the test… Read on

June 25, 2012
DONNA KARAN
When I was a design school student at the end of the 1980s, there was one name that you found in all of the magazines and on everyone’s lips: Donna Karan. She was changing the way women dressed. She wanted to “to design modern clothes for modern people.” Karan became a presence in the fashion… Read on

June 15, 2012
BEFORE THE PARADE PASSES BY
I’ve always been a little obsessed with parades. I scoured the internet trying to find out where parades originated, or why. What I’ve found is this: nobody knows. There are cave drawings from over ten thousand years ago that depict prehistoric men marching wild game home to cook in a wild and celebratory manner. Perhaps… Read on

May 31, 2012
MAKESHIFT + A DIY POP-UP SHOP
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

April 13, 2012
THE HEART: 12 FOR LIFE
Thanks to Ari Weinzweig at Zingerman’s, I have been working on a “Vision of Greatness” for Alabama Chanin over the last few months (well, closer to a year to be more exact). However, over the last few weeks, I feel that I made real progress and worked out a growth chart and mission statement that… Read on

March 23, 2012
THE HEART: RICK BRAGG AND “THE CHOICE”
When I returned to Alabama over a decade ago to start the project that has become Alabama Chanin, I had NO IDEA that this simple project would surround me with stories of cotton, mill work, and, quite honestly, the history of the small community where I grew up. This blog is proof to the fact… Read on

March 16, 2012
THE HEART: BETTER JOYS
I feel so honored and happy to introduce Jessamyn Hatcher as a new contributor to this blog (soon we will add a face to the name). Jessamyn has been a source of inspiration for me as I continue to learn how to frame the work that is so easy for me to DO, but so… Read on

March 2, 2012
THE HEART: A HISTORY OF TEXTILES (+ COMMUNITY)
It is no secret that I feel a commitment to my community; it is equally evident the role that growing up in Florence, Alabama, had on my development as a designer. Textiles – the growing, picking, spinning, knitting, cutting, and sewing – were a part of the vernacular of small southern towns from the late… Read on

February 9, 2012
DIY THURSDAY: ALABAMA CHANIN COVERED SNAPS
While we are a manufacturer of high-end women’s and men’s clothing, our office works less like a production facility and more like a studio. Because we custom-cut and paint each piece in our collections, it is important that we pay especially close attention to detail. What seems like a small mistake – like choosing the… Read on

February 2, 2012
THE PHYSICS OF SEWING BY HAND
This text – some of our most important sewing tips at Alabama Chanin – is an excerpt from Chapter 3 of Alabama Studio Sewing + Design (which we plan to receive and start shipping around the 15th of this month). It is important to us at Alabama Chanin that we as a humanity (women and… Read on

February 1, 2012
TALES FROM THE SOUTH’S FORGOTTEN LOCAVORES
After a few months and a busy holiday season, I’ve finally begun to process the experiences of my momentous trip to Oxford, Mississippi, for the Southern Foodways Alliance Symposium. I left the event full of delicious food and copious amounts of knowledge. More specifically, Elizabeth Engelhardt’s talk, “Tales from the South’s Forgotten Locavores,” filled my hungry… Read on

January 27, 2012
ECOSALON FRIDAY: SEWING FOR HUMANKIND
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

January 19, 2012
VENA CAVA (+ ALABAMA CHANIN DIY DRESS)
Last Thursday, we wrote about Vena Cava and began a dialogue (one we plan to continue every Thursday) about the intersection of Fashion, Craft and DIY. While in New York a few weeks back, I sat down for a quick coffee with Lisa Mayock – half of the Vena Cava design team – to share… Read on

January 2, 2012
SARA: ON BEAUTY
As Alabama Chanin has grown, part of the beauty of this growth has been my ability to watch our employees and families spread their wings, grow, and find their voices. A few months back, June started to use her voice to tell our stories through her own experiences. Today, Sara Martin makes that same leap and stretches… Read on

December 28, 2011
MAKING A DIFFERENCE
As the year closes, I thought I would put together a list of those people and organizations who have made a difference for me in 2011. For a moment, let’s celebrate just a few of those who are creating inspiring works by striving toward a better, more beautiful, sustainable world. The Kitchen Sisters, Davia Nelson… Read on

November 17, 2011
ROSANNE CASH + KRISTA TIPPETT, THANK YOU
Rosanne Cash has become one our favorite clients, friends, and points of inspiration over this last year. (Yes, thank you, it has been a very good year and we have lots of reasons to be thankful.) It seems that everywhere I turn these days, Rosanne’s name is attached to another interesting project. From America: Now… Read on

October 10, 2011
THE HEART: DIANE HALL
When introducing guests to our office staff, I always have to stop and take a breath at Diane Hall. Over the years, she has just become so much to me and to all of our staff. Like Steven, she has held just about every imaginable job and done or touched just about every task we… Read on

October 6, 2011
TOMATOES + FASHION
In 2006, Leslie Hoffman of Earth Pledge asked me to write an 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

February 11, 2011
EUCALYPTUS, LAVENDER, TRANQUILITY
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

February 9, 2011
IF I COULD JUST REHEARSE WEDNESDAY
Jenny Holzer: Changing beliefs every day. Jenny Holzer Truisms: A LITTLE KNOWLEDGE CAN GO A LONG WAY A LOT OF PROFESSIONALS ARE CRACKPOTS A MAN CAN’T KNOW WHAT IT IS TO BE A MOTHER A NAME MEANS A LOT JUST BY ITSELF

December 29, 2010
I AM LOVE
Last night, I finally saw Luca Guadagnino’s I Am Love. The cinematography of Yorick Le Sau is extraordinary. And Tilda Swinton is stunning… Manohla Dargis wrote an interesting review for the New York Times. I love this last paragraph: “The chase ends in a sylvan perch, where Antonio and Emma make love amid a cacophony… Read on

December 8, 2010
CELEBRATING 10 YEARS OF ARTISANS
For a decade, my work at Alabama Chanin has been made possible by our artisans. Without them and our amazing staff, there would be no Alabama Chanin. Many of the artisans working with us today are the very same women who sewed those first deconstructed t-shirts. I want to express my deep gratitude. Wielding needle… Read on

March 9, 2010
BLOG TOUR
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
October 7, 2009
CHANEL DOES COUNTRY – REALLY.
Okay a small fashion moment this morning, please. Can we just ponder for a second? It is a moment courtesy of Garance Dore – my new heroine. You have to seriously love a girl who writes this about herself: “Seriously though, there’s always this side to me that ends up utterly unorganized, that can’t get its… Read on

September 22, 2009
LES BLANK
It is an amazing thing in life when your heroes become your friends. And so it is with friend Les Blank. I rented Gap-Toothed Women in the 1990’s when I was living in Vienna. And then came Burden of Dreams. A clear addiction to documentary films ensued. Don’t miss this great interview with Les @ Vice Magazine.
July 17, 2009
FEMINITY, SALVAGED
This beautiful story from The New York Times today: Femininity, Salvaged Lillian Bassman: Women Anais Nin – The Delta of Venus

June 11, 2009
MELANIE FALICK
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

April 11, 2009
QUILTING
What can be said about quilting? It is a process I love: the history, the stories, the fabrics, the people. (I even made a documentary film called Stitch about old-time quilting circles.) At Alabama Chanin, we even take vintage quilts, refurbish them and add the oral histories of textile workers, collected from my community. I am in… Read on

March 31, 2009
SEASONS CHANGE
As we know, the fashion industry (along with many others) has spiraled out of control. I have recently spoken with many colleagues and it is my belief that this is the time to work hard(er) to make it better – rather than to sit and wait for something to happen. I saved this article from… Read on
November 1, 2008
SOUTH AFRICA REVISITED
My trip to South Africa was such an inspiration and difficult to digest and share all of the wonderful people and projects at one time… However, an example that continues to haunt me is the story of Monkeybiz. Economic development, women’s empowerment, health services – does not get more important than that. There is a… Read on

August 6, 2008
HOMAGE TO A TEACHER
Occasionally in our lives, a person comes along who changes the course of our destiny and makes us a better person, simply by having touched our lives. One such person in my life was a teacher who believed in me before I knew that one could believe. I came to his studio as a naive,… Read on

July 29, 2008
ALABAMA SONG
Our weekend workshop was a beautiful mixture of women from all walks of life. It was wonderful to hear our studio filled with laughter, chatter and, from time to time, the quiet hum of concentrated fingers at work. All of the projects are lovely and I am certain that the participants will be showing off… Read on

July 3, 2008
APALACHICOLA, FLORIDA
From St. EOM’s birthday party, we are on to Apalachicola for swimming, oysters, and Tupelo Honey with friend and storyteller Frank Venable. Maggie keeps saying over and over again, “Mommy, going beach, Mommy, going beach.” Don’t miss Working the Miles by Joe York, a tribute to the men and women of 13 Mile Oyster Company,… Read on

June 23, 2008
MIDSUMMER NIGHT’S EVE
Blair just sent me the email below. I replied to her that “this IS a post.” Enjoy Midsummer Night’s Eve, breathe, look at life and enjoy the moment. From Blair: Below, I copied the transcript from Garrison Keillor’s Writer’s Almanac (NPR). Tonight, to celebrate, I’m going to poach catfish in paper sacks (the method borrowed… Read on
May 29, 2008
GIRLFRIENDS – FROM BLAIR HOBBS
The other day, I received a voice message from my sweet friend, Lisa. “Blair, I was just at the farmer’s market and saw Lady Peas, and I always think of you when I see Lady Peas, so I left you a bag on your front porch bench.” When I thanked Lisa, I forgot to ask… Read on

November 5, 2007
YARN + THREAD
My friend, and colleague, Stacie Stukin sent me this very beautiful quote from the International Quilt Study Center. “Much of the social history of early America has been lost to us precisely because women were expected to use needles rather than pens. Yet if textiles are in one sense an emblem of women’s oppression, they… Read on