Sweet Home Alabama

 

From Fashion’s Night Out, to some of the most interesting CFDA/Vogue Fashion Fund Finalists yet, this year New York Fashion Week is full of fresh talent and ideas.  One designer with novel ideas is second time finalist Natalie “Alabama” Chanin, of Alabama Chanin, whose environmentally pristine collection was unveiled Saturday at a salon in New York City.

 

The company, based where else but Alabama, is rooted in the traditional textile craft culture of the American south.  Employing former mill workers to construct materials and salvaging fabric from old quilts to decrease their environmental footprint.

 

A costume designer, stylist, and film maker, Chanin’s background is present in her designs, conveyed with great restraint and precision.

 

Though the designs are often simple jackets, vests, and blouses wrapped high on the waist, the craftsmanship is in the details.  Long prairie dresses dusted in quilt stitched floral.  Smart skirts fell just below the knee, a single rich burgundy party dress, and a range of soft taupe and cobalt shaped the A-line silhouette.

 

A team of thirty local Alabamians made up of weavers, stitchers and craftspeople purchase raw materials from Alabama Chanin, then Alabama Chanin buys finished goods back from these artisans.  None of these pieces ever meets a sewing machine, each artist giving the hand-sewn folk craft new life through embroidery, applique, quilting, plaiting and weaving.

 

Honored for the dedication and innovation she has afforded a cottage industry that is so plentifully mechanized in the foreign markets, Chanin will have to wait until November 16th to know the results of the competition.

 

Other finalists this season include: Patrik Ervell of Patrik Ervell, Flora Gil and Alexa Adams of Ohne Titel, Monique Péan of Monique Péan and Simon Spurr of Spurr.

 

Rogan Gregory, Doo-Ri Chung, and Alexander Wang have all been awarded the top prize for their contributions in seasons past.

 

Photos from www.style.com