From top, left to right: Fabric swatch of the Fiorire paint design on organic canvas; menu for the Friends of the Café Dinner for Project Threadways, featuring Chef Nicole Mills; The Nieve Skirt in Wax; The Noto Bandana; A Field Guide to Getting Lost by Rebecca Solnit; Alabama Chanin Core Club in Navy and Natural…. Read on

Project Threadways and Alabama Chanin are excited to present the 2023 Friends of the Café Dinner featuring chef Nicole Mills, the Chef de Cuisine at Pêche in New Orleans, where she focuses on working with local fisherman and farmers who harvest sustainably. All proceeds will benefit Project Threadways. Tickets are $250 per person for an… Read on

Introducing Virtual Workshops, a remote learning series for beginners and experienced makers alike. Taught by The School of Making instructor Sunne Meyer, each two-hour workshop focuses on the physics of hand-sewing, embroidery, and construction. Once enrolled, guests receive workshop information and a form to choose a DIY Kit and/or materials for the class. As the… Read on

THE COLLECTIVE: TEXTILES AS COMMUNITY In 2019, and after 20+ years of planning and work, Natalie and the Alabama Chanin team officially formed Project Threadways as a 501(c)(3) nonprofit to record, study, and interpret history, community, and power through the lens of fashion and textiles. That year also marked the inaugural Project Threadways Symposium, now an annual… Read on

Join us for upcoming events, as Natalie and our team set out on tour to celebrate her sixth book, Embroidery: Threads and Stories. View our full schedule details here (and add an extra day or two to your travel plans for adventure). The Factory: Daily ToursEvery Monday – Friday @ 2:00pm CST ______ April 7,… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love. @alabamachanin “Summer passes and one remembers one’s exuberance.” —Yoko Ono Summer Living: The Poe Dress | $1,498 The Poe Dress offers a feminine silhouette with a v-neckline, a double tie closure, a fitted bust, and a gentle flare through the body. This sleeveless wrap dress… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love. @alabamachanin The Washington Post: “Florence, Ala., offers Nashville’s soul and flavor, without the hassle.” Read a recent profile on our community of The Shoals via @washingtonpost. Plan your trip to The Shoals, and explore upcoming events @ The Factory and within our community.  Inspiration:… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love. @alabamachanin The Perfect Tees: A word on our favorite tees from Erin Reitz, Alabama Chanin’s Design Director (and t-shirt lover). The Boxy Tee | $138 Fabrication: Medium-Weight Cotton Jersey (Organic + Domestic) Fit: Boxy with a slight crop, traditional short sleeve “I love the… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love. @alabamachanin Natalie Loves: Bed, a limited-edition booklet by Maira Kalman released on the first morning of Summer. @mairakalman “What is better than bed?There is no place I love more.The precise, ecstatic momentof getting into bed.The covers. The pillows.The womb. The cocoon.Beautiful blissful bed.” —Maira… Read on

Follow along on Instagram for more inspiration and stories we love. @alabamachanin Summer Nights: A new capsule collection from Alabama Chanin. Explore the hand-painted “Summer Nights” motif on organic lightweight cotton, new waffle essentials, and evergreen staples for all of summer’s adventures. Featured:  The Summer Nights Coverup | $418Sustainability + Care: 100% Organic Lightweight Cotton… Read on

This week’s installment of Stories We Love highlights our latest collaboration with Heath Ceramics (@heathceramics). Watch for more inspiration and stories from the development of the Echo collection coming up on the Journal. Natalie at Home: Photographs by Rinne Allen (@rinneallen) Alabama Chanin x Heath Ceramics etched dinnerware. @heathceramicsMuir Flatware in Tumbled by Heath Ceramics…. Read on

Continuing our new weekly inspiration series where we share the stories, works, and musings that inspire Natalie and our team each week. Follow along on instagram @alabamachanin to see more stories that #NatalieLoves each week. Cassandra Speaks by Elizabeth Lesser: “When women are storytellers, the human story changes.” @elizlesser Learn more about Cassandra Speaks and purchase a… Read on

Continuing our new weekly inspiration series where we share the stories, works, and musings that inspire Natalie and our team each week. Follow along on instagram @alabamachanin to see more stories that #NatalieLoves each week. InStyle: “Peek Inside Alabama Chanin Founder Natalie Chanin’s Gorgeously Curated Home”. Explore the new feature on Natalie’s home and kitchen… Read on

Continuing our new weekly inspiration series where we share the stories, works, and musings that inspire Natalie and our team each week. Follow along on Instagram @alabamachanin to see more stories that #NatalieLoves each week. (P.S.— Explore our inaugural Stories we Love post here.) InStyle: “Peek Inside Alabama Chanin Founder Natalie Chanin’s Gorgeously Curated Home.”… Read on

Introducing our new weekly inspiration series where we share the stories, works, and musings that inspire Natalie and our team each week. Follow along on instagram @alabamachanin to see more stories that #NatalieLoves each week. Congratulations to @cedric.burnside on his @recordingacademy win and to the whole @singlelock family for a year of award winning sounds…. Read on

Led by our team of experts and skilled artisans, The School of Making workshops offer immersive, hands-on education in all things DIY and hand-sewing.  Suited to specific areas of interest and experience levels, upcoming workshops range from virtual and beginner courses to highly specialized weeklong sessions. In addition to teaching skills and techniques to carry… Read on

In the spirit of the holiday season, we are reminded:   “Live by the Word (your word, your heart, your humanity, your humility, your best self, your fear, your higher power) and keep walking.” —Alice Walker  Revisit Alice Walker and Living by the Word here in this essay from Natalie.   And also follow Natalie’s journey here through Alabama Chanin’s 21 Years… Read on

“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 have also been an almost universal medium of female expression. If historians are to understand the lives of… Read on

“Serial in production, social in philosophy, circular by design, and faithful to longevity, Natalie’s collections signalled that international fashion could break the industry’s seasonal cycle and come from anywhere, even deep in the heart of Alabama where quilt-making became a movement at Gee’s Bend one century before. Local and global while defining a contemporary version of Americana… Read on

Tomorrow, we continue celebrating 21 Years, launching a collaboration with our friend and forward-thinking maker Diana Weymar of Tiny Pricks Project. The Alabama Chanin x Tiny Pricks Project is a collection of 21 one-of-a-kind jackets, each embroidered with lines from a poem titled Twenty-One Years. The poem, using words and sayings from twenty-one years of work, was written in a collaboration between… Read on

“Natalie and her team lead with the heart. The passion they have for people and mother earth is palpable. It is evident in everything they do – from fabrics to food, from hospitality to home goods, from workforce development to the way they share the work of others they admire.” —Malia Mills, swimwear designer and… Read on

Left: “Inspired By quilt”, 2014 by Beth Shibley, Los Alamitos, California, contributor Quilt Alliance with accompanying essay “Flags of Hope” essay, by Natalie Chanin, published in Talking Textiles, Issue 1 for New York Textile Month, September 2016 (pages 206–207). “A quilt tells a story about its maker, specific to a time and place; a quilt, quite literally, is a whole… Read on

Left: Stack of serged reclaimed down jackets, 2014, photograph by Rinne Allen; right: Grace Malloy of Poco Farm wearing Reclaimed Down Scarves for Patagonia’s Truth to Materials collection lookbook, 2014, photograph by Jeff Johnson “A big part of the beauty of this project is the prior lives of the down jackets. We will never know… Read on

Left: Etched dinnerware from the Alabama Chanin and Heath Ceramics Collaboration, bowls and mug from Heath Ceramics’ Coupe line, Alabama Chanin placemats and napkins with embroidery, 2011, featured in the T Magazine piece “Table Dressing,” written by Alexandra Lange “Depth of craft and beauty coupled with purpose [is Alabama Chanin’s most enduring quality]. There’s so… Read on

Left: “Barns of the Future” featuring The Farm Project by Mike Meiré from View on Colour: A World of Folk by Li Edelkoort, 2008, photographed by Robert Rausch; right: Indigo dyed Corset in reverse appliqué Angie’s Fall from the Alabama Chanin and Goods of Conscious collaboration, 2009, photographed and styled by Sarah Lewis Moursund Join… Read on

The Alabama Chanin 21 Years celebration continues tomorrow, highlighting the years from 2004 – 2006 during which Natalie collaborates with more artists and designers, becomes a member of the Council of Fashion Designers of America (CFDA), and founds Alabama Chanin—a career milestone in 2006.  This celebration marks Natalie’s legacy in sustainable design and honors our collaborators,… Read on

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

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

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

“Insightful Photos of 1960s Afghanistan Reveal What Life Was Like Before the Taliban”; Image via Dr. Bill Podlich’s collection, managed by his son-in-law Clayton Esterson.  “I want every girl to know that her voice can change the world.” —Malala Yousafzai  Women’s Equality Day is observed this Thursday, August 26th to commemorate the 1920 adoption of the Nineteenth Amendment to the… Read on

“Okra flower and okra” from Root to Leaf: A Southern Chef Cooks through the Seasons by Steven Satterfield.   “Let things taste of what they are.” —Alice Waters  August produces an abundance of fresh vegetables from the garden, at farmers markets, and on the menu at local eateries. Popular in our community this season are corn, tomatoes,… Read on

 “A word after a word after a word is power.” – Margaret Atwood  Today, National Book Lovers’ Day, celebrates a love of reading and literature. It encourages us to put down our phones and settle in with a good book. To mark this celebration, Natalie (a self-proclaimed lover of books) shares her current summer reading… Read on

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

“Summer has filled her veins with light and her heart is washed with noon.” —C. Day Lewis  Long days and short nights, travel and adventure, rest and relaxation, summertime connects us with the natural world, inspires exploration, and delivers bountiful gardens, fresh vegetables, and our beloved tomato sandwich. Follow these links to find readings and resources for… Read on

The Summer of Love collection highlights our Love Tee—a nod to sharing with those we love. Explore inspirations from the 1967 Summer of Love movement that reflected a longing for peace and love and represents a time unlike any other in American history:   The Summer of Love Experience: Art, Fashion, and Rock & Roll — the de… Read on

From Beauty Everyday by Rinne Allen, Rebecca Wood, and Kristen Bach (page 117).  “As you simplify your life, the laws of the universe will be simpler.”—Henry David Thoreau  Born on this day in 1817, poet, author, philosopher, and naturalist Henry David Thoreau was an advocate of living a simple life. Today, National Simplicity Day, honors his life and… Read on

“Clothes mean nothing until someone lives in them.” — Marc Jacobs  Not only is a T-shirt the foundation of so many wardrobes, but it is a foundation of Alabama Chanin. Nearly two decades ago Natalie cut up her first T-shirt, sewed it back together, and set herself on the path towards Alabama Chanin. This summer… Read on

“For the artisan, craft is an end in itself. For you, the artist, craft is the vehicle for expressing your vision. Craft is the visible edge of art.” — David Paul Bayles  At Alabama Chanin, we have enlisted the craftsmanship of skilled artisans for two decades. These artisans, who are independent contractors, craft our heirloom-quality Collection garments utilizing hand-sewing skills. As we celebrate Natalie’s… Read on

Each moment is just what it is. It might be the only moment of our life; it might be the only strawberry we’ll ever eat. – Pema Chödrön  June brings the Summer Solstice on June 20th, and its full moon, the Strawberry Moon on June 24th—honoring the berry synonymous with summer.  That summertime staple, the strawberry,… Read on

Left: “Plate 110. Wall hanging, Jacquard weaving”, 1925; right: “Plate 111. Wall hanging, three-ply weave”, 1926 by Anni Albers from Anni Albers: On Weaving (New Expanded Edition) by Anni Albers with afterword by Nicholas Fox Weber and essays by Manuel Cirauqui and T’ai Smith. “Most of our lives we live closed up in ourselves, with… Read on

Left: “Untitled”; Right: “Buds”, 1959 by Agnes Martin. From Agnes Martin, 2015 edited by Frances Morris and Tiffany Bell (pages 50–51).  “Beauty is the mystery of life. It is not in the eye, it is in the mind.” — Agnes Martin As we usher in June, we’re happy to celebrate Pride Month and the LGBTQIA+ community. This week… Read on

“All in all, it was a never-to-be-forgotten summer… one of those summers which, in a fortunate combination of delightful weather, delightful friends, and delightful doing, come as near perfection as anything can come in this world.” — from Anne’s House of Dreams by Lucy Maud Montgomery  As the world starts to awaken, this summer is a time for… Read on

Lead image: “The Wall #2”, 1962 by Agnes Martin from the National Museum of Women in the Arts.  “I do know one thing about me: I don’t measure myself by others’ expectations or let others define my worth.” ― Sonia Sotomayor  HISTORY describes Women’s History Month as a time to “reflect on the often-overlooked contributions of… Read on

Lead image from Beauty Everyday, 2013 by Rinne Allen, Kristen Bach, and Rebecca Wood (page 59)    “No act of kindness, no matter how small, is ever wasted.” ― Aesop  Winter finally made it to Alabama last week, with snow and ice blanketing The Shoals. Prioritizing our team’s safety, Alabama Chanin made the decision to close The Factory for the week. This winter… Read on

“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

new/n(y)oo/ adjective  Made or discovered recently or now for the first time.  In an interview on our Journal, our friend Ari Weinzweig of Zingerman’s Community of Businesses quoted Emma Goldman who said, “One to whom the making of a table, the building of a house, or the tilling of the soil, is what the painting is… Read on

While we are celebrating differently this year, we are reflecting on what to be thankful for during this holiday season.  At Alabama Chanin, we are grateful to each one of you who has supported our business during this trying year and also supported the work that has shaped our company over the last 20 years. We… Read on

“It’s actually a very liberating thing to have a creative community, which is something that we all kind of desperately search for and find in the ways that we can.” – Kae Tempest  The Factory Store will reopen for the holiday season on November 24th, and we’ll be hosting a series of special events at… Read on

“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

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

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

“A fundamental concern for others in our individual and community lives would go a long way in making the world the better place we so passionately dreamt of.” ― Nelson Mandela  Celebrated every year on his birthday, Nelson Mandela International Day “celebrates the idea that each individual has the power to transform the world and… Read on

“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

Freedom Quilt by Jessie B. Telfair (1913 – 1986). Made in 1983. Jessie was fired from her job in a school cafeteria because she registered to vote during the Civil Rights Movement. The pain of the incident stayed with her her whole life and fellow quiltmakers urged her to express her pain through her art…. Read on

Image: Vitamin T: Threads and Textiles in Contemporary Art by Jenelle Porter. This spread features “Black, blue, green, yellow, orange, red, pink” installation by Shinique Smith  “I believe that telling our stories, first to ourselves and then to one another and the world, is a revolutionary act.” ― Janet Mock  The Stonewall uprising took place in June of 1969 and… Read on

“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

“But there is another South, the one that we know: a South that is full of people who do things that honor genuinely honorable traditions. Drinking. Cooking. Reading. Writing. Singing. Playing. Making things. It’s also full of people who face our region’s contradictions and are determined to throw our dishonorable traditions out the window.” ―… Read on

“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

wan·der·lust /ˈwändərˌləst/ Noun a strong desire to travel.  The stillness, and for many, sheltering in place, that has blanketed the world leaves many of us longing for the opportunity to travel to near and far places. This week we share reading (and viewing) inspirations of people, places, and things for your wanderlust.  Travel back to the American West… Read on

“Owning our story and loving ourselves through that process is the bravest thing that we’ll ever do.” – Brené Brown  2020 looks a lot different than it began. Earlier in the year, we set the intention to focus on a practice of retreat and self-care; in the most unexpected way, we find ourselves digging deeper and deeper into… Read on

Building 14 is Alabama Chanin’s machine-made design and manufacturing division. It is a callback to the early days of our region within the history of American textile manufacturing.  Building 14 machine manufacturing, officially born in 2013, is a natural expansion of our hand-sewn ethos and part of the Alabama Chanin Family of Businesses. The concept is… Read on

Though we are surrounded by many uncertainties right now, we at Alabama Chanin will continue, as best we can, to share stories and have conversations that are uplifting and positive. Today’s post reminds us about enacting change through acts of courage. “I know you are asking today, ‘How long will it take?’ Somebody’s asking, ‘How… Read on

Many chefs have a deep relationship with food and music: Bill Smith with his band tees and history at Chapel Hill’s Cat’s Cradle; Cheetie Kumar—rockstar chef of Garland and Birds of Avalon; Sean Brock with his guitar collection and foray into music. These are a few chefs that have graced The Factory Café for our… Read on

“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

“Climb the mountains and get their good tidings. Nature’s peace will flow into you as sunshine flows into trees. The winds will blow their own freshness into you, and the storms their energy, while cares will drop off like autumn leaves.” ― John Muir, Our National Parks On March 1, 1872 (148 years ago this… Read on

The curator of our upcoming Friends of the Café Dinner, chef Peter Cho has worked in celebrated kitchens and won a number of awards in the culinary world; he and his wife are also innovators in marrying work and life in a modern way. A native of Oregon, Peter worked for a decade under April… Read on

“Mardi Gras is the love of life. It is the harmonic convergence of our food, our music, our creativity, our eccentricity, our neighbors, and our joy of living. All at once.” ― Chris Rose Tomorrow is Fat Tuesday! Though Mardi Gras has been celebrated for the past few weeks, official Mardi Gras Day is February… Read on

Visiting chef for our spring 2021 Friends of the Café Dinner, Whitney Otawka has meshed her love of travel and her experiences with the food of wide-ranging food regions into her own unique way of cooking. She learned of Cumberland Island of the coast of Georgia from a PBS special and saw it as an… Read on

“Alabama Chanin as a business was founded on the idea of a quilting stitch. And although it took me months to realize that I was actually quilting as I pieced together those first cut up t-shirts, the knowledge of those quilting stitches came from my most elemental childhood experiences. Growing up in the South, at… Read on

com·mu·ni·ty/kəˈmyo͞onədē/nouna feeling of fellowship with others, as a result of sharing common attitudes, interests, and goals. Community has always been an integral part of Alabama Chanin. Nearly two decades ago Natalie moved back to the familiar community of her hometown to begin what has grown into Alabama Chanin’s Family of Businesses. Sewers from the local… Read on

“We are all a little weird. And life is a little weird. And when we find someone whose weirdness is compatible with ours, we join up with them and fall into mutually satisfying weirdness—and call it love. True love.” ― Robert Fulghum This week is all about Valentine’s Day. From a bit of history on… Read on

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

“I like trains. I like their rhythm, and I like the freedom of being suspended between two places, all anxieties of purpose taken care: for this moment I know where I am going.” ― Anna Funder, Stasiland On February 5, 1883, the Southern Pacific Railroad completed its Sunset Route, a continuous rail line from New… Read on

This past month, we’ve been exploring ways to retreat and practice self-care. Following this theme (and after many requests), we’re hosting the second installment of our No Bullshit Breakfast: Enneagram. This second event takes place on Thursday, March 5th at The Factory; guests will receive an enneagram test code (see more below), light breakfast provided… Read on

“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

“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

Project Threadways, as a concept and idea, has been in the works for several years—taking shape in Natalie’s mind for even more. Last spring, the planning, learning, researching, and visioning came to life at the inaugural Project Threadways symposium, held at The Factory in April. Following the symposium, Project Threadways was officially established as a… Read on

To immerse our makers into the community that surrounds Alabama Chanin, this year chef John Cartwright of Rivertown Coffee, located in downtown Florence, will be joining us at The Factory to bring his own brand of Southern cooking to each workshop. We recently sat down with John to discuss Rivertown Coffee, the food community in… Read on

“The glory of gardening: hands in the dirt, head in the sun, heart with nature. To nurture a garden is to feed not just on the body, but the soul.” ― Alfred Austin This Saturday, January 25th, is National Seed Swap Day. Founded in 2006 by Washington Gardener editor Kathy Jentz, National Seed Swap Day… Read on

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

“I have the nerve to walk my own way, however hard, in my search for reality, rather than climb upon the rattling wagon of wishful illusions.” ― Zora Neale Hurston Author, anthropologist, and folklorist Zora Neale Hurston was born on January 7th, 1891 (129 years ago this Tuesday) in Notasulga, Alabama. In honor of her… Read on

“And suddenly you know: It’s time to start something new and trust the magic of beginnings.”― Meister Eckhart 2020 ushers in a new decade as well as the 20th anniversary of Alabama Chanin. As we prepare for the year ahead and celebrate Natalie’s two decades of commitment to sustainability, we wanted to take this opportunity… Read on

“And that, of course, is the message of Christmas. We are never alone. Not when the night is darkest, the wind coldest, the world seemingly most indifferent…” ― Taylor Caldwell With Christmas just two days away, today we wish you and yours a very happy holiday and share a few of our favorite holiday memories… Read on

“Christmas isn’t just a day, it’s a frame of mind.” ― Valentine Davis, Miracle on 34th Street  Whether Christmas decorating starts after Thanksgiving dinner or a few days before December 25th, decorating for the holiday is a tradition for countless homes every year. This week we share a few of our favorite DIY Christmas decorations.   DIY Tree Skirt   Pomander Balls  … Read on

“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

“If it can’t be reduced, reused, repaired, rebuilt, refurbished, refinished, resold, recycled, or composted, then it should be restricted, redesigned, or removed from production.” ― Pete Seeger This Friday, November 15th, is America Recycles Day. Originally founded in 1997, it was the Presidential Proclamation in 2004 of then-Present Bush that declared every November 15th America Recycles… Read on

“That’s the secret of entertaining. You make your guests feel welcome and at home. If you do that honestly, the rest takes care of itself.” ― Barbara Hall Holidays are just around the corner and now is the perfect time to prepare for the family and friends sure to gather around your table in the… Read on

“Anyone could see that the wind was a special wind this night, and the darkness took on a special feel because it was All Hallows’ Eve. Everything seemed cut from soft black velvet or gold or orange velvet. Smoke panted up out of a thousand chimneys like the plumes of funeral parades. From kitchen windows… Read on

“Every great architect is – necessarily – a great poet. He must be a great original interpreter of his time, his day, his age.” ― Frank Lloyd Wright Located in downtown Florence and a short drive from The Factory is the Rosenbaum House – designed by architect Frank Lloyd Wright, it one of only 26… Read on

In honor of the autumn season (and national dessert day this past Monday), we’re taking a look back at our favorite cookbooks and recipes. A favorite of The Factory is Jamie DeMent’s The Farmhouse Chef: Recipes and Stories from My Carolina Farm. Jamie DeMent and her partner, Richard Holcomb, own and operate Coon Rock Farm,… Read on

“We must have pie. Stress cannot exist in the presence of a pie.” ― David Mamet Today, October 14th, is National Dessert Day. In honor of this scrumptious holiday, this week we share some of our favorite dessert recipes from the Journal and the histories behind a few of the most famous and well-loved Southern… Read on

In August 2019, The Factory Café hosted celebrated chef and literal rock star Cheetie Kumar for a special evening of savory and sweet offerings highlighting her Indian and American culinary background. We were also joined by renowned wine importer Eric Solomon, who curated delightful wine pairings for each dish. Benefitting the Southern Foodways Alliance (SFA),… Read on

“Music is the great uniter. An incredible force. Something that people who differ on everything and anything else can have in common.” ― Sarah Dessen This past Saturday was the first-ever Shoals Fest here in Alabama, organized by singer and guitarist Jason Isbell. Shoals Fest celebrated the rich musical history of the Shoals area with… Read on

“What’s more important than recipes is how we think about food, and a good cookbook should open up a new way of doing just that.” ― Michael Symon October is National Cookbook Month. In observance, this week we share just a few of our favorite contemporary cookbooks. We hope that they will encourage you to… Read on

At The Factory, we thrive on creating an environment that is welcoming and inspiring to all. It’s been our great pleasure for the last six years to open our company doors to anyone who wants to learn more about who we are, what we do, and how we make. Our events, workshops, and parties have… Read on

Like other popular American foods, claims to the creation of the cheeseburger are scattered across the country. Sixteen-year-old Lionel Sternberger is said to have thrown a slice of American cheese on a cooking burger in 1924 at his father’s diner, The Rite Spot, calling it a “cheese hamburger”. The first establishment to serve a cheeseburger… Read on

Growing up in South Carolina, chef Sean Brock was surrounded by family gardens and people living off the land. As he says in his cookbook Heritage, published in 2013, “If you grow up like I did, you learn to appreciate food on a different level. You see firsthand the work that goes into getting the… Read on

“Rest is not idleness, and to lie sometimes on the grass under trees on a summer’s day, listening to the murmur of the water, or watching the clouds float across the sky, is by no means a waste of time.” ― John Lubbock, The Use of Life Summer is in full swing here in Alabama… Read on

“All of us who are openly gay are living and writing the history of our movement. We are no more – and no less – heroic than the suffragists and abolitionists of the 19th century; and the labor organizers, Freedom Riders, Stonewall demonstrators, and environmentalists of the 20th century. We are ordinary people, living our… Read on

“A museum is a place where nothing was lost, just rediscovered…” ― Nanette Avery On June 27, 1829 (190 years ago this week), British mineralogist and chemist James Smithson passed away, directing in his will that £87,620 be given to the United States for “an establishment for the increase and diffusion of knowledge.” That establishment… Read on

“For me, summer hasn’t really started until tomatoes reappear in local farmers’ markets.” ― José Andrés Today, June 17th, is National Eat Your Vegetables Day. Locally sourced organic vegetables have always been the cornerstone of the meals served at The Factory Café, and like many of our readers, farmer’s market produce is a staple on… Read on

As part of the Project Threadways Symposium in April, we hosted chef Bill Smith of the renowned Chapel Hill, North Carolina, restaurant Crook’s Corner. Bill has been a chef for 30+ years and provided our guests with a true Southern experience that included one of his well-known signature dishes, Atlantic Beach Pie. It was a… Read on

“It’s only when you grow up and step back from him—or leave him for your own home—it’s only then that you can measure his greatness and fully appreciate it.” ― Margaret Truman This coming Sunday, June 16th, is Father’s Day. In honor of the fathers, grandfathers, and father figures in our lives, this week we… Read on

“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

“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

April 11th not only kicked off the third annual Gathering at The Factory, but it also brought the second Supper Club dinner of 2019. The fare was rooted in Italy and meticulously prepared by our Factory Café using ingredients from local farms and purveyors. The evening started with pizzetta bianca, cannellini and anchovy crostini, and… Read on

“Bldg. 14 works to preserve [the] history and tell a new story of modern manufacturing in the United States.” ― alabamachanin.com It’s been 5 years since we opened Building 14, the machine manufacturing arm of Alabama Chanin’s Family of Businesses. In those five years, we have ushered in the Core Club and the Clean Tee,… Read on

“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

“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

“Earth is what we all have in common.” ― Wendell Berry Today marks the 49th time Earth Day has been officially celebrated in the United States. As we all take time today to reflect on the state of the environment and the steps we can take personally, and globally, to protect it, this week we… Read on

As the Project Threadways Symposium approaches, we are excitedly finishing up last minute details and getting the final product ready for you to view. These details include completing our exhibition, which will be on display at The Factory. Our documents and oral histories will be presented and include quotes from former textile workers like Sherri… Read on

“The buildings are simply elegant and the machinery is of the latest style and embraces all of the modern improvements for making cotton yarn.” ― Tom Anderton on the Cherry Cotton Mill in East Florence, quoted by William McDonald in his book, Sweetwater, Yesteryears, 1990 Though the history is not always pleasant, cotton and cotton… Read on

“Food is everything we are. It is an extension of nationalist feeling, ethnic feeling, your personal history, your province, your region, your tribe, your grandma. It’s inseparable from those from the get-go.” ― Anthony Bourdain This Thursday kicks off The Gathering at The Factory, and next week, we welcome the community for the first annual… Read on

“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

“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

“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

“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

“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

In January, we kicked off our second year of Supper Club dinners with chef Ramon Jacobsen and the team from Odette. The evening revolved around Peruvian-inspired meals and began with passed appetizers like fish ceviche, Causa, and beef heart skewers. The supper continued with courses that included dishes like chicken tamales, pork adobo, and fish… Read on

“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

“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

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

“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

“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

“How long? Not long, because no lie can live forever. How long? Not long, you shall reap what you sow… How long? Not long, because the arc of the moral universe is long, but it bends toward justice.” ― Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. We have written extensively about Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. over… Read on

In the grey lull between the end of the holiday season and the first signs of spring, we retreat indoors to soak up as much warmth as we can—spending more time in our favorite reading chairs, piled on the couches, and gathered in the kitchens. Alabama Chanin friend and photographer Pableaux Johnson visited during this… Read on

To set the tone of our new Collection release, we explore our color theme: blue. And not just any blue—it’s a vibrant possibility of the color. The color blue: A history from Egypt to now On the Journal: Anna Atkins + Cyanotypes Two hundred years of blue from Brainpickings Blue highways 10 artists and their… Read on

It has been five years since we began our Friends of the Café dinner series here at Alabama Chanin. Take a look back on our Journal for a look at the experiences created by the generous chefs who donated their time for these fundraising events. This year’s events will certainly be as special and we… Read on

“I hope that in this year to come, you make mistakes. Because if you are making mistakes, then you are making new things, trying new things, learning, living, pushing yourself, changing yourself, changing your world. You’re doing things you’ve never done before, and more importantly, you’re doing something.” ― Neil Gaiman To start the new… Read on

The Slow Food movement and its principles have inspired Alabama Chanin’s commitment to slow fashion. We take their mission of Good, Clean, Fair to heart, as we attempt to make responsibly, grow connections in our community, and espouse sustainable practices. In order to further these beliefs, we look to build relationships with others who want… Read on

“Hope smiles from the threshold of the year to come, whispering, ‘It will be happier.’” ― Alfred Lord Tennyson The eve of 2019 has inspired us to explore food traditions from around the world that are said to bring prosperity and luck to all those who partake on New Year’s Day. Soba noodles bid goodbye… Read on

2019 is ushering in exciting new changes for The Factory Café. Our beloved Friends of the Café Dinner Series will continue, as well as an array of new programming. 2018 wrapped up with some great events. Chef Kyle Ogden of the Shoals’ Turtle Point Country Club was featured at our September Supper Club and executed… Read on

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

The work of Project Threadways continues. We’ve been busy planning for the inaugural symposium in the spring and collecting oral history interviews from textile workers in our community. With the expert help of our friends at Nest and support and funding provided The Muscle Shoals National Heritage Area, we’ve developed a survey to help us… Read on

“It’s not how much we give but how much love we put into giving.” – Mother Theresa We’re two weeks away from Christmas and everything is a buzz at Alabama Chanin. Our Bldg. 14 team is humming along on the sewing machines. Our artisans are steadily working out in the field. Our fulfillment department is… Read on

Toast the season with a Christmas cocktail (or two). WHITE CHRISTMAS COCKTAIL 1 ounce Jack Rudy Elderflower Tonic 4 ounces Prosecco Fresh rosemary Fill a cocktail glass with Jack Rudy Elderflower Tonic and top with Prosecco – garnish with a sprig of rosemary.

“The joy of brightening other lives, bearing each others’ burdens, easing others’ loads and supplanting empty hearts and lives with generous gifts becomes for us the magic of the holidays.” ― W. C. Jones The holiday season is officially upon us. Cultures and religions across the United States and the world celebrate their own holidays… Read on

“Sometimes when we are generous in small, barely detectable ways, it can change someone else’s life forever.” ― Margaret Cho Giving Tuesday, a response to the consumerism that surrounds the holiday season, has been celebrated since 2012. Founded as a way to give back to one’s community, both local and global, the Tuesday following “Black… Read on

“Wherever there is a human being, there is an opportunity for a kindness.” ― Lucius Annaeus Seneca In a world where the news is filled daily with tragedies, injustices, and strife of one kind or another, we tend to forget the enormous impact that even the smallest act of kindness can have. In celebrating World… Read on

“The attractions of ceramics lie partly in its contradictions. It is both difficult and easy, with an element beyond our control. It is both extremely fragile and durable.” ― Isamu Noguchi Founded in 1948 by Edith Heath and her husband Brian, San Francisco-based Heath Ceramics have long been creators of functional and beautiful tableware and… Read on

We all dream of a homemade Thanksgiving dinner, but sometimes (and these days more often than not) we get swept up in the busyness of life and find ourselves scrambling to put together a last minute meal. For our Shoals community, The Factory Café is offering Thanksgiving Pickup again this year. Our menu includes Thanksgiving… Read on

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

Our inaugural year of The Factory Supper Club is drawing to a close (with two more left), and it has allowed us to showcase talented, local chefs and provide a unique experience for our guests. In November, The Factory Café is bringing in chef Fatin Russel of Odette, a beautiful dining establishment in downtown Florence… Read on

“We will be more successful in all our endeavors if we can let go of the habit of running all the time, and take little pauses to relax and re-center ourselves.” ― Thich Nhat Hanh The Leisure Collection gets an update tomorrow, so this week we explore the scientific and holistic benefits of relaxation and… Read on

The latest featured chef for our Friends of the Café dinner is Memphis-based Kelly English of venues Restaurant Iris, Second Line, and and Biloxi’s Magnolia House. His approach to Southern food, paired with international flavors, has helped Kelly make his name on the culinary scene. English was raised in Louisiana and studied pre-law at the… Read on

“One of the greatest pleasures of my life has been that I have never stopped learning about Good Cooking and Good Food.” ― Edna Lewis For the past 20 years the Southern Foodways Alliance, or SFA, has “explor[ed] the diverse food cultures of the changing American South.” Their Fall Symposium, held this weekend in Oxford,… Read on

In August, The Factory Café hosted James Beard Award-winning chef and fellow Southern Foodways Alliance lover, John Currence, for a special evening that combined savory with sweet and included personal touches to each dish. We were also joined by renowned wine importer Eric Solomon, who created original and clever wine pairings. The meal featured a… Read on

“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

Crop Stories is a food-based magazine, with each issue focusing on a particular ingredient. Its fourth edition highlights sweet potatoes—histories and how-tos, stories of real people who work the land, and a whole mess of delicious recipes. According to editor Andre Gallant, the magazine wanted to seek out diverse narratives and writers. “What we hope… Read on

“Wild is the music of the autumnal winds amongst the faded woods.” — William Wordsworth This past Saturday, September 22nd, brought the Autumn Equinox to all of us in the northern hemisphere. Though it doesn’t quite feel like Fall here in Alabama yet (almost), the changing of the seasons has us looking forward to savory… Read on

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

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

Sharing good food and good company with friends and family have brought some of our best memories over the years, at both The Factory Café and at home. Holidays, like Thanksgiving, Christmas, and New Year’s Eve (which will all be here before you know it) allow you to open your own home to family and… Read on

As summer comes to an official close, it seems to be getting hotter and hotter in Alabama. (Some things must get worse before they get better.) Luckily for us, The Factory Café has concocted the perfect late summer cocktail to keep us cool through the last of these sweltering days. This cocktail was served at… Read on

“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

For our July Supper Club, The Factory Café invited chef Josh Quick of Florence’s Odette to helm the kitchen with chef Ramon Jacobsen and their team. John Cartwright of Rivertown Coffee Company—who partnered with us for our May Supper Club—joined them in the kitchen. The evening was filled with summer harvest bounty. Odette is located… Read on

“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

“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

Summer is the season of vegetables, whether from your local farmers market or your backyard garden. And there are countless summer veggie recipes on the Journal, like this one for a Southern Antipasti, the beloved Tomato Sandwich (the secret’s in the homemade mayo), or a Grilled Vegetable Quiche. At The Factory Café, we eagerly anticipate… Read on

“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

In June, The Factory Café hosted James Beard Award-winning chef Rebecca Wilcomb for an evening of savory and sweet dishes with an Italian-Cajun spin, complete with a specialty cocktail and wine pairings. The dinner began with a Summer Solstice cocktail (find the recipe at the end of this post) made with peach and Prosecco, and… Read on

“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

North Carolina-based wine importer Eric Solomon started his career in spirits as a bartender in Great Britain. The rock and roll drummer was a quick study and was sponsored by the Institute of Masters of Wine, excelling in their rigorous coursework until his UK student visa expired. Once back in the states, he found work… Read on

“Things are never quite as scary when you’ve got a best friend.” — Calvin of Calvin and Hobbes, by Bill Watterson Unlike relationships we are born with, like parents, siblings, and cousins, our friends are completely of our own choosing. Without any pretense or obligation, they are the people we choose to share our life… Read on

Renowned chef John Currence was born and raised in New Orleans, Louisiana, but has become a veritable institution in his adopted hometown of Oxford, Mississippi. John currently runs City Grocery—which he opened when he was 26—and three other restaurants: the “upscale downhome” Boure, French bistro-meets-Mississippi café Snackbar, and his homage to the most important meal… Read on

“Cooking well doesn’t mean cooking fancy.” — Julia Child The bountiful harvests of summer make simple, fresh dishes, made from in-season vegetables and fruits, possible. Pair these with staple meats and seafood and summertime is sure to be delicious. In honor of this warm weather fare, this week is all about summer-eats. Blackberry Farm’s Green… Read on

“I found I could say things with colors and shapes that I couldn’t say any other way – things I had no words for.” — Georgia O’Keeffe Our lives are full of and, in many ways, dictated by color. We express ourselves with the color of our hair and clothing. The vibe of our home… Read on

“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

We’ve long been fans of Ashley English—southern cook, homesteader, and holistic nutritionist. We have listened to her advice on how to be a gracious host as we create memorable experiences for our guests at The Factory—and even made a few of her pies. Ashley is back with a newly released cookbook, Southern from Scratch: Pantry… Read on

“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

We are counting down the days until James Beard award-winning chef Rebecca Wilcomb is in house for the second dinner of our 2018 Friends of the Café Dinner series. To add to our excitement, Rebecca recently sent the menu for the night. It’s infused with Italian accents, a nod to her family history. You won’t want… Read on

“And so with the sunshine and the great bursts of leaves growing on the trees…I had that familiar conviction that life was beginning over again with the summer.” – F. Scott Fitzgerald, The Great Gatsby The summer solstice (or equinox) in the northern hemisphere brings the longest day and shortest night of the entire year…. Read on

In 2017, The Factory Café introduced The Factory Café Supper Club, a new type of dinner series prepared in full by Chef Ray, our café team, and members of our local culinary community. The dinners feature multiple courses with wine and beer pairings, specialty cocktails, and a low-key, unique atmosphere. This year the café team… Read on

“One of the greatest gifts my father gave me—unintentionally—was witnessing the courage with which he bore adversity…He was always unshaken, completely tranquil, the same ebullient, laughing, jovial man.” – Ben Okri By the time Father’s Day was proclaimed an official holiday in 1972, it had already been unofficially celebrated for 63 years—since Sonora Smart Dodd,… Read on

“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

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

“Summer afternoon—summer afternoon; to me those have always been the two most beautiful words in the English language.” – Henry James The (unofficial) start of summer is here, especially in Alabama where we have already seen days that top 90 degrees. To help you get a head start on your summer plans, this week we… Read on

“The table is a meeting place, a gathering ground, the source of sustenance and nourishment, festivity, safety, and satisfaction. A person cooking is a person giving: Even the simplest food is a gift.” – Laurie Colwin Last week, The James Beard Foundation held their annual awards ceremony (it’s like the Oscar’s for the food world)…. Read on

“The fair maid who, the first of May, Goes to the fields at break of day, And washes in dew from the hawthorn tree, Will ever after handsome be.” – Mother Goose nursery rhyme from The Children’s Mother Goose From its beginnings as an ancient Celtic ritual to modern day parades, festivals, and workers’ right… Read on

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

“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

“A community is made up of intimate relationships among diversified types of individuals—a kinship group, a local group, a neighborhood, a village, a large family.” – Carroll Quigley As we prepare to host friends, family, Shoals locals, guests from afar, and our making community for The Gathering this week, we were inspired to explore our… Read on

“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

Visiting chefs contribute cocktail recipes for our Friends of the Café Dinner series—now in its fourth year—with chef Steven Satterfield. For The Factory Café’s new Supper Club series (learn more here), our in-house team creates their own unique cocktails. We’re sharing the recipes from our 2017 Harvest Dinner below. Impress friends at your next gathering, or… Read on

Steven Satterfield is co-owner and chef of Miller Union, a restaurant located in Atlanta’s west side that focuses on seasonal ingredients. His relationships with local farmers and producers are the driving forces behind his menus. Chef Satterfield is an active member of Chef’s Collaborative, Southern Foodways Alliance, and Georgia Organics. In 2015, Satterfield released his… Read on

Cathead Distillery has been on our radar for many years. They sponsored one our very first Friends of the Café dinners with Vivian Howard in 2014, and we made a hand-sewn banner for them to use at special events. This spring, we’re partnering with them and Jack Rudy Cocktail Co. for a special Cocktail Workshop… Read on

The Factory Café’s 2017 Fall Harvest Supper was one for the books. For last October’s dinner, chef Ray showed off his skills in the kitchen (and on the grill). Our café team also presented another beautiful Valentine’s supper last week and, after a great response from our community, is excited to announce a new dinner… Read on

One of the best parts of a good salad is the dressing. Good dressings introduce flavors that complement the ingredients without overpowering a salad. Originally developed for The Factory Café’s signature salad, this Burnt Honey Sweet Potato Dressing remains a staple in our home kitchens. Earthy sweet potatoes are brightened by the addition of vinegar… Read on

Each year Alabama Chanin hosts a community picnic—a time for employees, artisans, collaborators, supporters, and members of the community to gather and celebrate. It gives us the opportunity to say hello to each of you, spend time together, and give thanks for the beautiful work and support we receive throughout the year. What started at… Read on

If you are a member of the Southern Foodways Alliance or a fan of the Bitter Southerner, as we are, you likely already know the work of Pableaux Johnson. During the 2015 SFA Symposium, he shared a short film about Hurricane Katrina and its aftermath and celebrated the city’s resilience with a helping of red… Read on

In 2018, we will mark our fourth year of our Friends of the Café charity dinner series. A look back at our Journal reveals the incredible chefs that have generously donated their time and resources to raise money and awareness for important causes. Our first dinner of 2018 is scheduled for April 12th and is… Read on

2017 welcomed exciting changes, friends and collaborators, and community involvement to The Factory Café. In July we welcomed new head chef, and Florence native, Ray Nichols. Our menu saw exciting changes with the addition of Antipasti Mondays, The Factory Burger, house made pastrami, and seasonal grit bowls on the brunch menu. We continued the tradition… Read on

We’re bringing a piece of New Orleans to Florence this January, as we collaborate with photographer/food and travel writer Pableaux Johnson for a special supper hosted at The Factory Café. Appropriately called Red Beans Road Show, Pableaux’s pop-up dinner series shows guests Louisiana hospitality and is held in a casual family-style format, creating a unique… Read on

The Factory Café continues to grow, change, and evolve—just like the menu that it serves each day. The café has seen three incredible chefs come through the kitchen since its opening in 2013, and today we want to introduce you to our head chef, Ray Nichols, and welcome him to the team. Ray—who was born… Read on

In our grand finale for the 2017 Friends of the Café Dinner Series, Asha Gomez and her team hosted a lively and lovely evening, sourcing from our local farmers in combination with her own collection of spices. In My Two Souths, Asha states, “I call my style of cuisine ‘two Souths cooking.’ Its flavors and… Read on

The Factory opened to the public in November of 2013 with our flagship store and accompanying café. The Slow Food movement has informed much of our work, and so we envisioned a space where the two merge—slow food served fresh and slow design made locally. We hope you’ll be able to visit us in our… Read on

The Factory Café team is anxiously awaiting the arrival of Asha Gomez for her sold-out Friends of the Café dinner tomorrow night. It’s our last in the 2017 Friends of the Café Southern Foodways Alliance benefit series—but café chef Ray Nichols will be cooking a Fall Supper on October 19th. The Factory Café served Golden… Read on

The Factory Café routinely attempts to maintain a fresh and unique selection of food and beverages, utilizing as many local and regional purveyors as possible. One of our most recent additions is Oyster Shed Rosé, developed by friend and collaborator Brooks Reitz, founder of Jack Rudy Cocktail Company, and Harry Root, president of Grassroots Wine…. Read on

Our most recent Friends of the Café Dinner, helmed by Ashley Christensen and her team, was another memorable milestone in our ongoing friendship and professional relationship. We have always proclaimed Ashley to be a badass, and she proved herself worthy of the description, once again. She has dedicated such an enormous amount of time, energy,… Read on

National Chocolate Chip Cookie Day is recognized as August 4th, though we celebrate every day around here. (They’re offered on the menu in The Factory Café Monday – Saturday.) Today we pay homage to the American dessert that has acted as temporary relief from financial woes during The Great Depression and became a symbol of… Read on

Our friends at Blackberry Farm have introduced exciting additions to The Blackberry Farm Brewery lineup. This month, they’ve released three new beers, inspired by outdoor adventures and in partnership with Brew Hub of Lakeland, Florida. We are familiar with Blackberry Farm’s classic bottling style from their seasonal Saison, but this is the first time they… Read on

We love you all. We love the Fourth of July. We love our staff. We love for our staff to spend time with their families. In celebration of Independence Day this year, The Factory, the Alabama Chanin offices, and our production studios will be closed today, July 4, 2017. Some of our staff will celebrate by… Read on

In honor of our recent Friends of the Café Dinner with chef Ashley Christensen, The Factory Café is featuring a tomato pie recipe from her cookbook, Poole’s: Recipes and Stories from a Modern Diner. Ashley’s Homegrown Tomato Pie will be available from June 27th – July 1st (or until we run out of tomatoes), with… Read on

This year’s Friends of the Café dinner series has been a gratifying success, as we once again have worked with some of the most talented and knowledgeable chefs in the South to raise funds for the Southern Foodways Alliance. Our upcoming dinner will be hosted by James Beard Award-winning chef Ashley Christensen, a longtime friend… Read on

Join us on the first and third Tuesday of every month for our sewing group meetup. The spirit of making that this group brings to The Factory each month is contagious—as is the joy of visiting with friends and sharing projects. First and Third Tuesday of each month 8:30am – 11:30am Alabama Chanin @ The Factory 462 Lane Drive… Read on

It’s hard to imagine that something as commonplace as the waffle didn’t make it big in the United States until the 1960s—especially when its origin dates back to ancient Greece. The earliest waffles were called “obelios” and were cooked between two hot metal plates. Sometime during the 13th century, Europeans started stamping the cakes with… Read on

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

Some people dip them in a tall glass of milk; some separate the creme from the chocolate cookies and eat them separately; some smother them with peanut butter—and others just enjoy them plain. You can even find deep fried versions at carnivals and fairs. The Oreo cookie is an undeniable American classic. In April of… Read on

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

Traditional mojitos consist of five ingredients: white rum, sugar, lime juice, soda water, and mint. While this cocktail is a popular summer drink, we’ve adapted it to suit our mid-February temperatures (though the weather in Alabama has been all over the place—68 degrees one day, 30 the next). SPARKLING GRAPEFRUIT MOJITO 4 mint leaves 1… Read on

We previously introduced you to Muletown Roasted Coffee, creators of our house coffee, The Factory Blend. Co-owners Chris Weninegar and Matt Johnson, who originally met here in the Shoals, established their roasting and retail facility on the main square in downtown Columbia, Tennessee. Two years have passed since we last spoke with them, and for… Read on

2016 brought a lot of change and growth at The Factory. Our team worked hard to provide our community with fresh, creative lunch specials, seasonal cocktails, special events, and an expanded catering program—making this our best year yet. Thank you to all of you, near and far, for visiting us at The Factory. We feel… Read on

Alabama Chanin hosted our very first Friends of the Café Dinner in May of 2014, and since then we’ve experienced meals and enjoyed gatherings that were nothing short of magical. In retrospect, we almost cannot believe the lineup of talented chefs who have graciously donated their time for these special fundraisers: Sean Brock, Ashley Christensen,… Read on

In 2010, American Express founded Small Business Saturday as a way to help small businesses gain local attention, and in turn, more customers. Small Business Saturday falls between Black Friday and Cyber Monday—two of the biggest (and busiest) shopping days of the year, occurring at big box retail locations and e-commerce platforms, respectively. The day… Read on

As part of our zero waste mission, we upcycle menus from The Factory Café into notepads that we use around the office for meetings, or to write thank you notes on. We stencil and cut the paper into quarter sheets and place them on our café tables with pencils for our guests’ convenience, as well…. Read on

If you’ve attended some of our past Friends of the Café Dinner events, you may have seen Adam Evans’ face in our kitchen, working beside both Frank Stitt and Rob McDaniel. A constant student of his craft, he was quoted as saying, “Any time you get a chance to work with someone who is the… Read on

We’ve been playing and experimenting with cocktails for Saturday Brunch at The Factory. This week we’re highlighting one of my favorites, The Ginger, made with Tippleman’s Ginger Honey Syrup. Enjoy our recipe. Mix together: 5 ounces of your favorite Prosecco or Champagne 1 teaspoon Tippleman’s Ginger Honey Syrup 1 slice blood orange Serve in our… Read on

If you follow along on the Journal, you know that Alabama Chanin is a long-time supporter of the Southern Foodways Alliance. Over the years, we have joined together for countless partnerships, events, and projects: Natalie barbequed dresses for their 2012 Symposium; we created an apron in their honor; we even supplied costumes for their collard… Read on

I spent quite a lot of time over the holiday season digging into some of my favorite cookbooks. This was sparked on by several things: My son, Zach, and I started talking about what we want to accomplish with The Factory Café in 2016 and got side tracked talking (for a very, very long time)… Read on

For many Americans, “Black Friday” (the name given to the Friday after Thanksgiving) marks the beginning of the holiday season. It’s a day largely associated with fanatical shopping and savings. While some people dread the thought of Black Friday shopping, many get excited—even camping out at stores the night before to get the best deals…. Read on

#achaninteamatwork  (very hard at work this week) To learn more about The School of Making Project with Nest, visit here.

When the company that became Alabama Chanin began years ago, we didn’t have (or didn’t know how to find) many kindred spirits—those who were enthusiastic about celebrating uniquely Southern craft traditions. Years later, we look around and see so many individuals and organizations who have taken up the banner for Southern craft, culture, foodways, and… Read on

Patagonia’s Worn Wear truck and team arrived in Alabama and to The Factory yesterday morning. They’ve set up in the parking lot and brought fabrics and machines to repair your existing gear. As a bonus, they’ve also brought a slew of jackets that they’re giving away so we can learn to make our own repairs. I… Read on

#aroundthefactory Thank you to everyone who came out, sponsored, and supported our Friends of the Café Dinner with Rob McDaniel, benefiting the Southern Foodways Alliance. To name a few—Rob McDaniel and his amazing team from SpringHouse Restaurant, Billy Reid, the Southern Foodways Alliance, John T. Edge and Melissa Hall, Grassroots Wine, Cathead Vodka, Good People Brewing,… Read on

#aroundthefactory collaborations are in the works.

#aroundthefactory Thanks to all who are giving our Sample Sale items new homes. Our shipping team has been hard at work all week to get packages out the door and into your hands.

Last year, we launched our Friends of the Café Dinner and Factory Chef Series, which was quickly established as part of our Makeshift initiative. As with most things here at Alabama Chanin, the idea evolved over time from an interesting idea into something bigger. In 2015, we are continuing to host Friends of the Café… Read on

After seven years of living, working, laughing, sewing and growing in this house at Lovelace Crossroads, we are moving past “The Crossroads” and on to “The Factory.” Our new building, originally built in 1982 for Tennessee River Mills, sits in the heart of the industrial community that was a hub of textile production from 1976… Read on