As a culmination of the 10 year celebration, creative director Roman Alonso of Commune Design, photographer Lisa Eisner, and cinematographer Wyatt Troll travel to The Shoals to capture the Alabama Chanin collection. In collaboration with Alabama Chanin and photographer Robert Rausch, the team travels across two counties capturing the rural beauty of the community and collection.
From Roman:
“The best projects are the ones that expose you to a new world, something you’ve never seen before. Working on the Alabama Chanin re-brand and shooting those images with Lisa and Wyatt in and around Florence, was like diving into a deep river in Natalie’s mind, a Southern tale she created full of beauty, and craft, and history. I’ll never forget it.”
—Roman Alonso, co-founder and creative director, Commune Design
From NOWNESS:
“To celebrate ten years of designer Natalie Chanin’s groundbreaking couture project Alabama Chanin—a micro-enterprise that uses organic and recycled materials (and local talent) to produce limited-edition, hand-stitched creations—cinematographer Wyatt Troll traveled to the foothills of the Appalachians to capture her universe on film, exclusively premiered here by NOWNESS. “One can feel lusciousness in the air and water there—a bit heavy, but altogether wonderful,” says Troll of Florence, Alabama, where the company is headquartered. Troll’s movie, set to Devendra Banhart’s cover of “The Overachievers” by the Liars, captures the languorous glamour found in Chanin’s clothes—appliqué cotton camisole dresses that sweetly invoke American Gothic, intricately embroidered A-line jackets with deconstructed “fur” finish—by locating the collection in the everyday poetry of the rural American South.”
Read more about the project and watch the film here.
Learn more about Roman and Commune Design.
Follow along @communedesign and @shopcommune.
Find Wyatt Troll’s powerful films and photography here.
Learn more about Lisa Eisner and follow along @lisaeisnerjewelry.
Slide 1: Dress from Alabama Chanin’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection worn by model Tracy Antonopoulos, photograph by Lisa Eisner
Slide 2: Pieces from Alabama Chanin’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection worn by models Jane Moseley and Tracy Antonopoulos, photograph by Lisa Eisner
Slide 3: Quilted Anna’s Garden Swing Coat and top from Alabama Chanin’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection worn by model Jane Moseley, photograph by Lisa Eisner
Slide 4: Quilted Anna’s Garden Swing Coat and skirt from Alabama Chanin’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection worn by model, artist, and friend Sandi McGee, photograph by Lisa Eisner; A front porch in rural Alabama that served as a gathering place for long conversations on cool summer nights, photograph by Robert Rausch
Slide 5: Anna’s Garden Maggie Tunic from Alabama Chanin’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection worn by model Tracy Antonopoulos, photograph by Lisa Eisner; Explore the Maggie Tunic Kit here, and find the Maggie Dress pattern with top and tunic variations here, now available from The School of Making
Slide 6–7: Designs from Alabama Chanin's Fall/Winter 2010 collection worn by models Jane Moseley and Tracy Antonopoulos, photographs by Lisa Eisner
Slide 8: Walking Cape, Anna's Garden Classic Jacket and Skirt, and ruffled top with stripe appliqué from Alabama Chanin's Fall/Winter 2010 collection worn by model Dominique, photograph by Lisa Eisner; Explore the Walking Cape pattern and Classic Jacket DIY Kit, now available from The School of Making
Slide 9: Dress and Bateau shrug in Anna's Garden layered over a ruffled skirt from Alabama Chanin's Fall/Winter 2010 collection worn by model Jane Moseley, photographs by Lisa Eisner
Slide 10: Lily Rausch, a family friend of Natalie's, and Natalie's daughter, Maggie, wear Alabama Chanin while picking flowers, photograph by Lisa Eisner; Today, this hand-stitched quilt hangs on display in The Factory
Slide 11: Pieces from Alabama Chanin’s Fall/Winter 2010 collection worn by model Jane Moseley in a field of wildflowers, photograph by Lisa Eisner
Slide 12: Behind-the-scenes photos of friends and collaborators for the project, Lisa Eisner and Roman Alonso, photographs by Robert Rausch