From the first collaborations with Lola Schnabel and Fernando Sanchez, Project Alabama initiated multiple collaborations from 2004 to 2006. Artists and designers like Chi Modu, Elliott Puckett, Eva Whitechapel, Hugo Guinness, Michael and Nicole Colovos of Habitual, Michi Meko, Rob Ryan, Studio Job, and Tomas Maier partner on stencil designs, garment shapes, and collection pieces.
Chi Modu passed away on May 19, 2021 in Summit, New Jersey.
Learn more about Chi Modu’s extraordinary life and work and follow @chimodu.
Explore Elliott Puckette’s work here.
Explore Hugo Guinness’ work here.
Explore more of Project Alabama’s collaborations through these entries (listed in chronological order): Lola Schnabel, Fernando Sanchez, Tomas Maier, Habitual Jeans, Studio Job, Eva Whitechapel, Rob Ryan, and Michi Meko.
About Chi Modu:
In early 2005, Natalie meets Chi Modu through her partner Enrico. A collaborative bond is formed which results in several garments inspired by Chi’s photographs of rap legends Tupac Shakur and Biggie Smalls. Additionally, a small collection of these photographs are printed on fabric and embellished by Alabama-artisans. In preparation for the collaborations with Michi Meko and Chi Modu, Project Alabama explores the connections and evolutions between craft, folk art, and hip-hop.
“Early hip hop pioneers had many things in common with folk artists; in addition to being shaped by social and economic pressures, both groups were either unaware of any rules governing their creation of art or they chose to discard outdated dogmas and methodologies. Early hip hop 'breaks,' like folk art pieces, were raw but sophisticated.”
—Excerpt from Every Artist is a Local Artist by Sara Martin for Project Alabama, September, 2005
Slide 1: Screen used to transfer artwork by Elliott Puckette onto screen printed pieces for Project Alabama’s collaboration with the artist, 2004, photograph by Robert Rausch
Slide 2: Screen printed tops from Project Alabama’s collaboration with Elliott Puckette and Hugo Guinness, 2004
Slide 3: Illustration and message to Natalie “Alabama” Chanin by Rob Ryan; Models J.P. and Rosie Huntington-Whiteley wear pieces from the Project Alabama and Chi Modu collaboration for Project Alabama’s Fall/Winter 2005 Collection debut at Bryant Park during Olympus Fashion Week, photographs by Marcio Madeira (read about Project Alabama’s Bryant Park fashion show here)
Slide 4: Job Flowers dress with couching and detail of Job Flowers stencil artwork from the Project Alabama and Studio Job collaboration, 2004 (learn more about this collaboration here)
Slide 5: Portrait of artist Michi Meko, photograph courtesy of Michi Meko; Painted Corset with beading and appliqué from the Project Alabama and Michi Meko collaboration (learn more about this collaboration here)
Slide 6: Project Alabama’s collaboration with Elliott Puckette and Hugo Guinness featured in the November 2004 issue of Vogue magazine; Winter Leaves pattern designed by Eva Whitechapel for the Project Alabama Fall/Winter 2005 collection
Slide 7: Pique pattern designed by Eva Whitechapel for the Project Alabama Spring/Summer 2005 collection (hear from Eva and read some of our favorite “Eva-isms” here)